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August 11, 2006
We're proud to announce the addition of a worthy organization to our online resource library:
The Trevor Project (TheTrevorProject.org)—a non-profit organization dedicated to suicide prevention among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth—is excited to announce complimentary distribution of our educational materials throughout the states of California, Florida, Georgia, New York and Texas. Thanks to the support of several caring foundations, The Trevor Survival Kit has already been distributed to over 1,000 LGBTQ-supportive educators and youth service providers throughout these states. But in order to complete this project we need your help in linking with LGBTQ-friendly education and social work professionals that will gladly receive our tools for suicide prevention among this vulnerable population.
You may already be aware that the World Health Organization lists suicide as one of the top three causes of death among 15-24 year olds. But did you know that…
- The US Department of Health & Human Services reported that gay youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers?
- The 2001 Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey (MAYRBS) concluded that sexual minority youth are "almost four (4) times as likely to have attempted suicide (31% vs. 8%)" and "more than five times as likely to have received medical treatment for a suicide attempt (16% vs. 3%)" than their heterosexual peers?
- Sexual orientation and gender identity alone are not risk factors for suicide. However, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) youth face many social factors that put them at higher risk for self-destructive behaviors, including suicide. The Trevor Project provides the following programs as a cure for these grim statistics:
The Trevor Helpline—866.4.U.TREVOR (866.488.7386)
Our signature program is a free and confidential nation-wide helpline that offers hope and someone to talk with, 24/7. Young people, 13-24 years of age, can make a free call anytime of the day or night from anywhere in the nation to speak with trained counselors who will listen without judgment and help them identify supportive resources in their area.
The Trevor Survival Kit—A Vital Tool for Educators and Youth Service Providers
This kit contains The Trevor Teaching Guide, the Academy Award(r)-winning short film, Trevor, posters, and other outreach materials developed to assist education professionals and youth service providers in generating constructive discussions about the myriad of issues surrounding suicide, personal identity and sexual orientation.
Dear Trevor—TheTrevorProject.org/DearTrevor.aspx
Youth can anonymously ask non-urgent questions about sexual orientation and identity issues through this on-line Q&A resource. They can also spend time browsing the many letters that "Trevor" has answered to see if there is another young person with a situation or question that is similar.
We are reaching out to you for assistance with this project, because of the organization with which you are connected—we can see that you care for the LGBT community. Following are some ways that you can help us spread the word about the availability of The Trevor Survival Kit and our other programs:
- Include an announcement about The Kit in your organization's printed newsletter, email blast and/or listserve (see enclosed for suggested copy)
- Make an announcement about The Kit at PFLAG, PTA and other meetings that you attend and hand out the enclosed Survival Kit flyers and order forms
- Add information about The Kit to your website or MySpace page (friend us at MySpace.com/trevproj or link to TheTrevorProject.org)
- Tell LGBT-friendly School Psychologists, Administrators and/or Teachers about the resource (What school doesn't want free resources?!?!)
- Alert your local Teacher's Union about The Kit
- Talk to you local Human Relations Commission, LGBT Community Group, United Way (2-1-1), and/or Suicide Prevention Organization
With your kind assistance, we can reach adults that need tools to help them address issues related to personal identity, sexual orientation and suicide, so that they can initiate a constructive dialogue with young people about these issues. Through education and frank, open discussions with all youth about the issues that cause them to feel isolated, alone, misunderstood and "different" from their peers, we can make a difference. By empowering our youth, we make them gatekeepers of one another's lives.
Thank you for your support of our mission to save young lives.
Sincerely,
Andy Scheer
Program & Outreach Director
THE TREVOR PROJECT
8581 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 558
West Hollywood, CA 90069
T 310. 271. 8845
F 310. 271. 8846
www.TheTrevorProject.org
Posted by
Misty on 8/11/2006
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