Over the summer is a good time to check in on your student’s mental health and well-being. Did you know that, according to the 2023 Missouri Assessment of College Health Behaviors, almost 30% of surveyed S&T students identify with a sexual orientation other than heterosexual? While LGBTQ+ students make up almost a third of the student population, their mental health and well-being looks much different than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. 75% of S&T’s surveyed LGBTQ+ students have had suicidal thoughts in their lifetime and have higher rates of mental health concerns such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks, disordered eating, and chronic sleep issues. 

 One of the best, and easiest, ways to help support your student’s mental health is to keep up to date on resources and services that are available, especially lifesaving resources. Below is a list of resources curated by members of S&T’s JED Health and Well-Being Committee to reference and talk about with your student while they are home for the summer.

•  This article from the JED Foundation talks about the prevalence of suicide within the LGBTQ+ community and ways to reduce suicide risk
• Additionally, this webpage from the JED Foundation focuses specifically on how to help your student, such as warning signs to watch for, ways to start the conversation surrounding mental health, and other resources that can help.
• The Trevor Project provides mental health and crisis support for LGBTQ+ teens and young adults. You can visit their Resource Center to learn more about a variety of topics, such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and mental health. The Trevor Project has a 24/7 crisis line, made for LGBTQ+ individuals who can talk to other LGBTQ+ individuals trained to support mental health and deescalate crises. Call the crisis line at 866-488-7386, text 678-678, or chat online. 
• The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24/7 crisis hotline that is now easier than ever to access- simply call or text 988. 
• For on-campus support, enrolled undergraduate and graduate students can use Student Well-Being’s services, such as individual counseling and group counseling with a licensed counselor or an LGBTQ+ wellness consultation with a wellness coordinator. 

 We appreciate the ongoing mental health and well-being support you offer your student, and hope that you enjoy your time together this summer. Please reach out to Student Well-Being at 573.341.4211 or wellbeing@mst.edu for questions, concerns, or support.

Source:

Article submitted by S&T Student Well-Being. Please Note: Missouri S&T does not endorse or have a relationship with SOURCE and articles are provided for information purposes only.  Missouri S&T and SOURCE do not assume responsibility for error or omission in materials.  

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