Latino LGBTQ+ youth have a higher rate of attempted suicides, according to survey. Here is how to help

A national survey found that 40% of Latino LGBTQ+ youth considered and attempted suicide , a higher rate than their white peers.

65% of Latinos experienced symptoms of anxiety, while other Latino youth individuals experienced 56% symptoms of depression. Last week, The Trevor Project published their 2024 national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people.

CALÓ News spoke with therapist Frances Chinchilla Orellana, clinical supervisor of Behavioral Health Services at AltaMed in Boyle Heights, to discuss mental health awareness and suicide in the Latino LGBTQ+ community and provide tips and advice for parents to support their children.

At AltaMed, they support the LGBTQ+ youth community by providing services that work with the youth as a whole as well as offering them safe spaces. “Behavioral Health Services support the youth who are coming into their own, who are coming into their identity, and who are having issues around their sexuality,” Orellana said. “We get all types of referrals; sometimes we'll even get referrals for parents who are struggling with acceptance around their child's sexual orientation, and we do some support around that as well.”

For Orellana, the first step a parent can take to support their child is by being accepting, by providing a supportive environment and by demonstrating empathy for their child’s experience.

“It's a challenge, it's something that's difficult to navigate. But if a child is coming to their parents and sharing their difficulty or sharing that they're identifying as part of the community, the most important thing that that parent needs to convey to that child is love and acceptance, even if they are struggling to accept,” Orellana said.

She also spoke about the importance of allowing parents to validate their own feelings and understand that sometimes their feelings are fear-based. “It could really be a lot for parents, especially in the Latino community, it's not something that we're planning on having to accept or even bringing into their world,” she said.

According to the survey, “LGBTQ+ young people are not inherently prone to higher suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Rather, they are placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society.”

To better support Latino LGBTQ+ youth who are suffering from bullying and mental health challenges, Orellana believes communities need to create a nonjudgmental environment as well as offer support in terms of wanting to understand, as opposed to coming from a space of judgment.

“Schools are definitely a space where there should be allies for youth. One of the things that is important for the youth is to be able to identify those allies. It could be as simple as the school social worker having an equality sticker on their wall because then the youth may feel like they are understood and are able to express themselves and address things around their sexual orientation.” Orellana said.

She also said that it’s important that parents not make homophobic comments. “I think sometimes, parents don't know about these homophobic statements, and maybe their son or daughter is part of the community and hasn't come out yet, but they're picking up on these statements and what that message is, which will make them feel like they’re not going to be accepted,” she says.

Parents not being supportive not only has a negative impact on their mental health, but it also makes them feel very alone and isolated, which may make them feel like they're not being understood. “Just 40% of the LGBTQ+ youth surveyed said they found their homes to be affirming, which underscores the need to create safer spaces for this particular population of youth,” according to the Trevor Project National Survey.

AltaMed provides school-based behavioral health services at 17 schools throughout Los Angeles and Orange counties. They also facilitate informational parent workshops at some of the schools to educate parents about a variety of mental health topics, connect them with resources, and provide them with a safe space to learn, ask questions and interact with other parents. AltaMed is raising awareness about the importance of mental health and shifting attitudes towards mental health disorders and treatment. “It's important work, and we're hoping to really work on reducing stigma,” she said.

For Orellana, it is important to also address disparities in the LGBTQ+ community. “The LGBT community is marginalized. They're at higher risk for mental health challenges. They're at higher risk for suicide attempts. It's a vulnerable population,” she said. This is why it's important to educate the community about sexual orientation, identity and acceptance.

Creating a safe space for youth is key. Orellana said that many individuals feel isolated because they are not supported at school or at home. “It’s a very lonely space for them. This is clearly why the population struggles with more mental health challenges and higher rates of suicide. And it's also a very lonely time when they might be transitioning or really having a clear idea of what their orientation is. So, it's crucial to get the support right when that's happening,” she said.

Additionally, AltaMed helps teens and young adults take control of their physical, mental and sexual and reproductive health. They connect individuals with educational programs, any necessary resources and confidential health services that can help empower their choices. To get more information, visit www.altamed.org/teens.

AltaMed also offers short term therapy to help overcome any challenges. If an individual needs long term therapy, they can be linked to mental health services. To learn more about their service, call (855) 425-1777.

If you are in crisis or are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please call the suicide prevention hotline at (800) 273-TALK (8255).