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June 9, 2022
Media contacts: Jonathan Modie, OHA, 971-246-9139, PHD.Communications@dhsoha.state.or.us
Agency reaffirms commitment to youth, families as school wraps up
PORTLAND, Ore. — June is Pride Month, and Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is reaffirming its commitment to supporting lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, two-spirit, intersex and asexual+ (LGBTQ2SIA+) youth and families.
OHA is encouraging family members and communities to join in supporting LGBTQ2SIA+ young people by celebrating gender and sexual orientation diversity and affirming the unique and diverse identities of young people in Oregon. OHA is also highlighting resources that help promote well-being, safety and inclusion as summer gets under way.
“Summer can be a challenging time for our LGBTQ2SIA+ youth, particularly transgender and LGBTQ2SIA+ youth of color, who lose many of the supports they had access to the rest of the year,” said OHA Director Patrick Allen. “For any youth, and LGBTQ2SIA+ youth in particular, having positive, affirming supports from their families and community organizations over the summer can make the difference between surviving and thriving.”
In June 2020, the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) published the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan to address “barriers to educational success for Oregonian students who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, non-binary, transgender, gender queer, two-spirit, intersex, asexual (+).” The plan establishes a framework for creating safe, inclusive and welcoming schools for LGBTQ2SIA+ students. One of the primary strategies within the plan is to align State of Oregon agencies to support LGBTQ2SIA+ youth to thrive.
ODE Director Colt Gill said the Success Plan “recognizes the tremendous inherent strengths in each of our LGBTQ2SIA+ students. It also acknowledges the statistically inhospitable educational settings they experience in school and in their communities. It sets forth strategies to increase inclusivity, increase student belonging, reduce bullying, address bias-based harassment and campus assaults, and improve attendance.”
Communities, families and trusted adults play a critical role in contributing to and supporting their LGBTQ2SIA+ children’s well-being. Family behaviors that promote self-esteem, overall health, and strong, affirming relationships protect LGBTQ2SIA+ young people against potential suicidal behavior, depression and substance use.
A number of local, state and national resources are available for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and families to thrive as summer kicks off:
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TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark Graduate School Works to empower transgender and gender-expansive children, youth and their families in living healthy lives that are free of discrimination through a range of services and expertise.
- PFLAG offers quick tips to parents for supporting their LGBTQ2SIA+ children during the coming-out process. PFLAG also has nine chapters in Oregon, including in eastern, southern and central Oregon and the Portland metro area.
- The Family Acceptance Project works to increase family and community support for LGBTQ2SIA+ children and youth, decrease health and mental health risks, and promote well-being. An Oregon page also is available.
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The Trevor Project promotes suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ2SIA+ young people. Public education materials are available on its website, and it recently published the results of its 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers a number of resources for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth, their friends and supporters on its website. The CDC also provides professional development resources for teachers and school staff.
- The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity at the University of Maryland aims to address disparities in mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems that affect the LGBTQ2SIA+ community. The center published a short video last year on basic terminology that is important for people to know when working with those of diverse sexual orientations or gender identities.
- New Avenues for Youth’s Sexual & Gender Minority Youth Center provides culturally specific support for LGBTQ2SIA+ youth.
The Student Health Survey (SHS) is a comprehensive, school-based, anonymous and voluntary health survey of sixth-, eighth- and 11th-graders that OHA and ODE jointly conduct in the fall of even-numbered years. SHS data is used to improve the health and well-being of all Oregon students to help them succeed; the survey is a key part of statewide efforts to help local schools and communities support all Oregon youth to be healthy and successful learners. According to Oregon’s 2020 Student Health Survey, youth identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender are much more likely to report mental health concerns compared with their peers.
- Among eighth-graders, 38% of lesbian, gay and bisexual youths contemplated suicide in the past year, compared with 7% of heterosexual youth.
- Among 11-graders, 44% of transgender or gender diverse youth contemplated suicide compared with 18% of females and 10% of males.
- Also among eighth-graders, 40% of lesbian/gay youth experienced anxiety almost every day, compared with 8% of straight peers.
Tribal two spirit, black LGBTQ2SIA+ and youth of color often experience racial discrimination as well as the weight of discrimination related to their sexual and gender identities. The survey found:
- Thirty-nine percent of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth of color strongly agree/agree that there is conflict at school based on race/ethnicity/culture, compared with 38% of all LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and 27% of all youth.
- Fifteen percent of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth of color strongly disagree/disagree that adults at their school respect people from different backgrounds, compared with 13% of all LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and 7% of all youth.
- Twenty percent of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth of color experienced recent school bullying, compared with 21% of all LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and 12% of all youth.
- Forty percent of LGBTQ2SIA+ youth of color said they had no one at school to go to if they had a problem with their physical or mental health during the school day, compared with 39% of all LGBTQ2SIA+ youth and 27% of all youth.
The survey also found that queer and transgender youth experienced school bullying at much higher rates than their peers:
- Among 11-graders, 26% who are transgender, 19% who are lesbian/gay and 17% who are bisexual report experiencing bullying over the last 30 days, compared with 8% of straight peers.
- Among eighth-graders, bullying rates were 30% for transgender, 23% lesbian/gay, 24% bisexualand 10% straight.
OHA works with other state agencies, counties, Tribal Nations, communities and advocacy groups across the state to prevent suicide in Oregon, including offering links and contact information to help lines and other resources:
- Find a training program near you to learn about how you can help prevent suicide and connect to help.
- Oregon launched the Safe + Strong Helpline and website at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to provide support for those struggling with the loss of loved ones and lifestyle changes. The Safe + Strong Helpline, 1-800-923- HELP (4357), is available 24/7. More help and resources are available in multiple languages on the Safe + Strong website.
- 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Line by Lines for Life: 1-800-273-8255
- 24/7 Crisis Text Line: Text “OREGON” to 741741
- YouthLine for teen-to-teen support. A phone line and text support line are available where trained youth respond from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday, PDT.
- Call 1-877-968-8491
- Text teen2teen to 839863
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