As the 2024-2025 school year wraps up statewide this week, Oregon Health Authority is sharing resources to promote well-being, safety, security and inclusion among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit, questioning and (+) (LGBTQIA2S+) youth.
Summer months can be a challenging time for queer youth and their families as many supports they have access to during the school year are no longer available. Since 2022, OHA has helped celebrate gender and sexual orientation diversity by highlighting resources available to LGBTQIA2S+ youth during summer.
Many local, state and national resources are available for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and families to help them thrive all summer, and all year. Some resources include:
- Oregon Youth Resource Map
- TransActive Gender Project at Lewis & Clark Graduate School
- PFLAG (formerly Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) offers quick tips to parents and caregivers
- Family Acceptance Project
- The Trevor Project promotes suicide prevention and crisis intervention for LGBTQ+ young people
OHA works with other state agencies, counties, Tribal nations, communities and advocacy groups across the state to ensure youth in Oregon have access to support and services, including offering links and contact information to help lines and other resources:
- The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24/7, is for people in any type of behavioral health crisis, such as mental health-related distress, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or substance use crisis. People can get help by calling 988, texting 988 or chatting online at 988lifeline.org
- 988 offers specialized support for LGBTQIA2S+ youth under age 25 by calling 988 and pressing 3 or texting “Q” to 988
- Oregon Alliance to Prevent Suicide is dedicated to preventing youth and young adults in Oregon from dying by suicide. Call 503-399-7201 for more information (not a crisis hotline)
- Oregon LGBTQ Support, from Oregon LGBTQ Youth & Family Resources, lists resources that focus on providing services and support to reduce mental health risks and promote well-being for LGBTQ young people.
- The YouthLine offers peer-to-peer help, support and crisis intervention for youth ages 10-24. Phone, text, and chat support are available where trained youth respond from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Pacific Time, every day of the year (Adults are available by phone at all other times).
- Call: 877-968-8491
- Text: teen2teen to 839863
- Chat: theyouthline.org
