I have had suicidal thoughts

Published Letter #469 - Posted in , , , , .

Question:

At school there are so many people who keep saying that gays and bisexuals are disgusting. I haven’t told anyone that I’m bisexual but I only discovered it a few months ago… I feel so scared because more than half of my classmates plus my dad and brothers say that gays and bisexuals are terrible, disgusting people. I have had suicidal thoughts, and I do sometimes get depressed because of what they say. What should I do?

Callisto <3

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Answer:

It’s unfortunate that some of your classmates and family members have said negative things about gay and bisexual people.  I’m sorry to hear that they have caused you to feel scared to be yourself and scared to express your feelings. But I’m glad that you have asked for help, because there are supportive people here and elsewhere who will listen to you and offer support.

Being scared to talk about your sexuality is understandable considering the negative opinions that you’ve heard at home and at school. But keeping everything inside can add to your sadness and loneliness. Talking to caring people can help you to feel less alone and less depressed. If you have a trusted adult in your life (such as a teacher or school counselor) consider sharing your feelings with him or her. If that’s not an option you can always call The Trevor lifeline at 1-866-4-U-Trevor; the service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Your safety is the most important thing. So if you think that you may hurt yourself, please call the Trevor lifeline first and at least let someone there talk to you and listen to you. You might also call 9-1-1 or go to a local emergency room for help. You can get information about the symptoms of depression by going to www.us.reachout.com and clicking on “struggles with feelings.” Please know that you are not alone and that there are mental health professionals available to talk with you and to help you sort through your feelings and concerns. You can search for services in your area at  http://mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases. You might also contact the Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists at 215-222-2800 or on their website at www.aglp.org for help finding someone in your area to talk with.

I am so glad that you have reached out to The Trevor Project for help. Remember, you can always call the Trevor lifeline, access TrevorChat, or visit TrevorSpace at www.trevorspace.org; it’s a supportive online community for people who have or might have had questions regarding their sexuality or gender identity.