Content note: This episode discusses youth suicide and mental health. If you or a young person in your life needs support right now, crisis resources are listed below. Last year, 36% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide. That’s more than 1.8 million young people. As our guest says, that risk isn’t part of who they are. It’s a response to how the world responds to them. This week, host Dean Wong welcomes Phii Regis, Manager of Public Training at The Trevor Project, to the podcast. Phii trains youth-serving professionals across the country to be strong, informed allies of LGBTQ+ youth. Before joining Trevor, they spent 10 years leading LGBTQ+ inclusion training at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation. Together they unpack why 84% of LGBTQ+ youth want mental health care and why so many still can’t get it. They also cover what the adults in a young person’s life can do about it starting today. Phii shares a practical tool every parent and educator can use right away, and both Dean and Phii open up about their own coming-out journeys and the language gaps they had to cross with their families. If you’ve ever worried about saying the wrong thing, this conversation is for you. In this episode: What’s driving the mental health gap for LGBTQ+ youth: discrimination, family rejection, stigma and fearThe three biggest barriers to care: access, mental health stigma, and fear that providers will out them or that they’ll have to educate their providersWhy being present, open and non-judgmental matters more than having the right answer“Mirroring language”: how to affirm a young person’s identity even if you don’t know the termCorrection: Around 16:46, Phii names one of The Trevor Project’s 24/7 crisis programs as “TrevorSpace.” They meant “TrevorText.” TrevorSpace is Trevor’s online peer community, which Phii goes on to describe as one of their prevention programs. Get support from The Trevor Project (24/7, free and confidential): Call: 1-866-488-7386Text: START to 678-678Chat: TrevorChat.orgCommunity: TrevorSpace.org, a safe online community for LGBTQ+ young peopleAnyone in crisis can also call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. For parents, educators and youth-serving professionals: Trevor Ally Training: thetrevorproject.org/ally-trainingCARE Training for schools, healthcare and youth-serving organizations: thetrevorproject.org/care-trainingContact The Trevor Project: thetrevorproject.org/contact-usLearn more: TheTrevorProject.orgCredits: Host and Executive Producer: Dean WongProducer: Katie MecklenburgGuest Coordinator: Kat WatanabeProduction Engineer and Editor: Vini PimentaMusic: AM BrandsRecorded at Akakū: Maui Community MediaProduced by Imua Family ServicesAbout Real Action for Kids: The Podcast Real Action for Kids is hosted by Dean Wong, CEO of Imua Family Services. Each episode features real parents, philanthropists and community members from Maui and across Hawaiʻi talking about what keiki and families need today, and where we’re falling short. Listen, share and subscribe If this episode meant something to you, send it to someone who needs to hear it. You can follow the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, YouTube or wherever you listen. A rating or a quick review helps other families find us. Get involved To learn more or support the work, visit RealActionforKids.org. Instagram and Facebook: @realactionforkids Imua Family Services: @discoverimua on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, Threads and LinkedIn Credits Host and Executive Producer: Dean Wong Producer: Katie Mecklenburg Guest Coordinator: Kat Watanabe Production Engineer and Editor: Vini Pimenta Music: AM Brands Recorded at Akakū: Maui Community Media Produced by Imua Family Services
