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EnglishWhat Resources Does The Trevor Project Offer for Friends and Family of LGBTQ+ Youth?
Updated
The Trevor Project offers friends and family several practical resource categories: guidance on supporting LGBTQ+ youth through family and friend support systems, materials for talking about suicide, LGBTQ+ mental health resources, and LGBTQ+ community resources. These are informational and educational resources, not a substitute for crisis counseling. If a young person is in immediate danger, the organization's direct 24/7 crisis services (call, text, or chat with a trained counselor) are the appropriate route.
Resource categories for friends and family
The resource center is organized by topic, so you can go straight to the area that matches your situation.
| Resource area | What it covers | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Friends & Family Support Systems for LGBTQ+ Youth | How friends and family can act as sources of support | Parents, relatives, and friends who want to be supportive |
| Resources for Talking About Suicide | How to approach conversations about suicide | Anyone worried a young person may be at risk |
| LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources | Mental health information specific to LGBTQ+ young people | Understanding distress, self-harm recovery, and wellbeing |
| LGBTQ+ Community Resources | Community-level support and connection | Finding affirming spaces and peer support |
The site also features a "Support for LGBTQ+ Self-Harm Recovery" resource and a "Facts About Suicide" page, which notes that suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10 to 24. That context can help friends and family understand why early, supportive conversations matter.
How to use these resources
- Start with the support-systems page if your goal is everyday support: it frames friends and family as part of a young person's support network.
- Read the suicide-conversation materials before you need them. The site's guidance on talking about suicide is designed for people who want to raise the topic responsibly rather than avoid it.
- Use the mental health and community sections to understand what a young person may be experiencing and where affirming community support exists.
- Escalate to direct support when needed. The Trevor Project provides information and support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, year-round, via call, text, or chat with trained counselors. The site states plainly: "If you are thinking about suicide, or feeling lonely, we're here to listen."
What else friends and family can do
Beyond reading, the site lists ways to get involved: fundraising (for example, donating a birthday or using social channels to gather support), advocacy initiatives in all 50 states, volunteering as a trained counselor, and open roles at the organization. For a friend or family member, fundraising or advocacy can be a way to turn concern into action.
A note on scope
These resources are educational. They help you recognize warning signs, start conversations, and connect a young person to appropriate help, but they do not replace professional crisis support. The site's own framing is that you can reach out to a counselor if you're struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else — the last part is exactly what the friends-and-family resources are for.