May is National Mental Health Month and the Atlanta Pride Committee will be recognizing this with a series of events. A 2015 study found that 1 in 3 LGBT adults experienced mental illness, compared to only 1 in 5 non-LGBT adults. A whopping 40 percent of transgender adults have attempted suicide in their lifetime, much higher than the less than 5 percent of the general U.S. population. By encouraging discussions on mental health, we can help break down stigma and link our community to resources that are available to them.
Steven Igarashi-Ball, Director of Equity & Engagement at Atlanta Pride stated, "We are excited to partner with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for programming in the month of May and beyond."
The first event in May's series of events will be on Monday, May 2, 2022 at 12:00pm and will focus on an Introduction to Suicide Prevention in the LGBTQ Community. This will be a community-based presentation that covers what we know about this leading cause of death, the most up-to-date research on prevention, and what we can all do to fight suicide.
If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, please call 800-273-8255 today, for assistance.
For more information about the Talk Saves Lives Presentation, click here.
For more information about the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), click here.