The 988 Crisis Lifeline Turns Three: California’s Progress and the Challenges Ahead
The third anniversary of 988 is a moment to reflect on its impact and why California’s investments in crisis care through AB 988 matter now more than ever.
Members of California’s LGBTQ Caucus continue their fight for mental health access and LGBTQ+ rights
June is officially Pride month, but the fight for LGBTQ+ rights and mental health is important year-round. To close out this month we asked members of the California Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus, Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Sabrina Cervantes and Assemblymember Christopher Ward, their thoughts on the importance of Pride month and how we can continue to better support LGBTQ+ mental health.
The mental health impact of being LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color)
“Being black already makes life hard…adding being gay on top [of] that is extremely difficult.” A student quote from a 2018 Human Rights Campaign report highlights the struggles LGBTQ+ youth of color face. Discrimination and mental health conditions are inextricably linked and without people that understand and offer support, LGBTQ+ youth of color are left alone.
Mental health risk factors facing the LGBTQ+ community
In middle school, Juan Acosta was teased about his sexuality, something he didn’t fully understand yet. As a consequence, he struggled with his mental health and at one point even contemplated suicide. In an interview for our My Mental Health Journey series, Juan says, “I felt like such a big part of my being was intruded by assumptions that although were not wrong, made me feel ashamed for being who I was.”