Brendan Ayanbedejo spreads the message of Talk to Me. Credit: The Trevor Project
With three simple words we can all help save a life.
West Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) September 03, 2013
Throughout September, The Trevor Project and 20 national partners will be raising awareness to prevent suicide among youth, especially those who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ), through “Talk to Me.” This campaign for conversation is rooted in research* that indicates improving both help-seeking behaviors and access to care can have a dramatic effect on suicide prevention. At its heart, Talk to Me is about making it okay to offer help and being willing to connect a person with life-saving resources.
“Talk to Me enters its third year of raising awareness about how, with three simple words we can all help save a life,” said Abbe Land, Executive Director & CEO of The Trevor Project. “This year, 20 national organizational partners representing leaders in mental health, education, suicide prevention, youth, and LGBT communities are sharing the messages of Talk to Me. The Trevor Project looks forward to communities across the country gaining access to life-saving, life-affirming tools and resources to help prevent suicide among LGBTQ youth.”
Raising awareness about suicide prevention in September highlights the urgency of addressing the preventable, second leading cause of death among youth as young as age 10 through age 24.** The Trevor Project and our partners will recognize World Suicide Prevention Day (Sept. 10) with a live Google+ Hangout on Air at 3pm ET, followed by a Twitter chat to continue the conversation at 4pm ET. Additional panels and social media activities occur throughout the month. Talk to Me, found at TrevorTalkToMe.org, engages youth and adults in a multi-faceted public awareness campaign to prevent suicide. Elements of the campaign include:
- PLEDGE to be a person that anyone can talk to when they need support;
- TAKE ACTION by asking that members of Congress fund inclusive suicide prevention training and programs by re-authorizing the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act (H.R. 2734);
- TRAIN A TREVOR LIFEGUARD by registering for a free Trevor Lifeguard Workshop, a best practice for training suicide prevention for grades 6-12;
- SHARE Talk to Me badges, banners and updates on social media to show support of suicide prevention.
Talk to Me partners include:
Active Minds
American Association of Suicidology
American School Counselors Association
Campus Pride
Children's Mental Health Network
City Year, Family Equality Council
GSA Network (Gay-Straight Alliance Network)
GLAAD, GLAD (Gay & Lesbian Advocates and Defenders)
GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network)
HRC (Human Rights Campaign)
Matthew Shepherd Foundation
National Association of School Psychologists
National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
RAINN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network)
SAVE (Suicide Awareness Voices of Education)
Teach For America
To Write Love on Her Arms
To learn more about Talk to Me and to get involved, visit TrevorTalkToMe.org.
ABOUT THE TREVOR PROJECT:
Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) young people ages 13-24. Every day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its accredited, free and confidential phone, instant message and text messaging crisis intervention services. A leader and innovator in suicide prevention, The Trevor Project offers the largest safe social networking community for LGBTQ youth, best practice suicide prevention educational trainings, resources for youth and adults, and advocacy initiatives. Learn more at TheTrevorProject.org.
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*SOURCES: Borowsky, I. W., Ireland, M., Resnick, M. (2001). Adolescent Suicide Attempts: Risks and Protectors. Pediatrics. doi: 10.1542/peds.107.3.485; Eisenberg, M., Resnick, M. (2006). Suicidality among Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth: The Role of Protective Factors. Journal of Adolescent Health. 39: 662-668. Doi: 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2006.04.024; Kidd, S., Henrich, C. C., Brookmeyer, K. A., Davidson, L., King, R. A. and Shahar, G. (2006), The Social Context of Adolescent Suicide Attempts: Interactive Effects of Parent, Peer, and School Social Relations. Suicide and Life-Threat Behavi, 36: 386–395. doi: 10.1521/suli.2006.36.4.386
**CDC, National Centers for Injury Prevention and Control. Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS). (2013/08/01). Available from:http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/wisqars