Suicide Prevention for At-Risk Youth: The Trevor Project

Founded in 1998, the Trevor Project is a non-profit organization focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. Started by the creators of the academy award-winning short film Trevor, and in response to the realization that nothing comparable existed beforehand, the Trevor Project has grown to the forefront of various social issues, saving countless lives in the process.

The core of The Trevor Project’s mission is to end suicide among LGBTQ+ youth, a group that is significantly more likely to consider and attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. To combat this, The Trevor Project offers 24/7 crisis counseling, advocacy and education services, as well as a secure online platform for affected youth to connect with their peers called TrevorSpace.

What sets this project apart from others, aside from being the first of its kind, is the innovative approach to reaching and supporting its target group. The TrevorProject leverages technology to maximize its impact, using Google-developed algorithms and machine learning to identify high-risk contacts more quickly and ensure they receive immediate attention. This tech-forward approach enables them to provide life-saving support efficiently and effectively.

Equally impactful is the TrevorProject’s commitment to conducting impactful research regarding the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth. Their research produces an incredibly broad spectrum of findings which are crucial in understanding the social and political factors that contribute to the mental health crises among LGBTQ+ youth, and serve as a foundation for advocacy and policy change efforts aimed at creating a safer, more inclusive society for all young people.

As a young, queer person, the reason I am inspired by the TrevorProject is pretty self-explanatory. Their impact is incredibly important, and I can only hope to work towards similar goals in my professional career.