About 9.5% of youth ages 13 to 17 in the United States belong to the LGBTQ community, according to a 2020 survey conducted by the Williams Institute at UCLA School of Law. And LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their families reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate support, according to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
Support from parents and caregivers can make an impact on a child’s mental health. When a child comes out, parents don’t always know what to do and what to say, and that’s OK, said Caitlin Ryan, director of the Family Acceptance Project. The main thing is that you are there for your child, she added.
Here are some ways you can support your LGBTQ child’s mental health:
When a child comes out, or speaks openly about their LGBTQ identity, it’s important to listen to and respect what they have to say. However, if you aren’t ready to have these open conversations, or think that speaking with your child will lead to an argument, it can be helpful to take a step back and focus on learning more about your child’s identity.
When children come out, some parents and guardians initially struggle to understand their child’s identity. Additionally, for some parents of transgender or non-binary youth, it can be difficult to adapt to their child’s chosen name and pronouns. However, it’s important to use a child’s chosen name and pronouns regardless of internal emotions.
There is a lot of misinformation about sexual orientation and gender identity and that can lead to some parents rejecting their child when they come out.
Read more at CNN.com.
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