West Hollywood, CA – In order to help all people know how to act at a time of extreme crisis for a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning young person, The Trevor Project has unveiled Y-CARE, which stands for “You-Connect Accept Respond Empower.” This new mnemonic is part of The Trevor Project’s awareness-building activities during National Suicide Prevention Week, September 5-11, and will be highlighted in youth-focused training tools, in printed materials and online at TheTrevorProject.org.
“It
is not easy to know what to do when a young friend or family member
tells you they are planning to end their life,” said Charles Robbins,
Executive Director of The Trevor Project. “Y-CARE is an accessible tool
to help young people, especially remember what to do when a peer is
depressed and thinking about suicide.”
You
Connect the person to resources and to a supportive, trusted adult.
Accept and listen to the person’s feelings and take them seriously.
Respond if a person has a plan to attempt suicide, and tell someone you trust.
Empower the person to get help, and to call The Trevor Lifeline (866-488-7386).
Y-CARE
…because suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15 to 24-year-olds
…because LGB youth are up to 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers
…because depression is treatable and suicide is preventable
…because when You CARE, you can help save a life!
“We
know the risk for a suicide attempt by lesbian, gay or bisexual youth
is up to four times that of a young person who is straight. Many times,
this occurs because these young people may feel depressed, hopeless and
alone due to the negative treatment they receive due to their sexual
orientation or gender identity,” said Jeffrey Fishberger, M.D.,
on-call clinician for the Trevor Lifeline. “When ‘You CARE,’ you can
reduce some of those feelings of hopelessness and loneliness. The
implied question, ‘Y-CARE’ will help people remember that caring is the
first step to saving the life of an LGBTQ youth in crisis.”
Y-CARE
is designed to teach the casual learner, especially youth, about crisis
intervention, and will be useful for the untrained public to remember
lifesaving tips when a suicide crisis presents itself. The Trevor
Project will continue to stress and to teach the clinical steps to
crisis prevention and suicide intervention for LGBTQ youth through its
Lifeguard Workshops, which are provided to educators and community
leaders, and Lifeline Counselor trainings for the volunteer counselors
who staff the 24-hour, direct-service Trevor Lifeline. The warning signs
for suicide will continue to be highlighted on The Trevor Project.org
The
Trevor Project is the leading national organization focused on crisis
prevention and suicide intervention efforts among LGBTQ youth. Every
day, The Trevor Project saves young lives through its free and
confidential lifeline, in-school workshops, educational materials,
online resources and advocacy. The organization was founded in 1998 by
three filmmakers whose film, “Trevor,” a comedy/drama about a gay
teenager who attempts suicide, received the 1994 Academy Award® for Best
Short Film (Live Action). For more information, visit www.TheTrevorProject.org.