Dr. Tia Dole Provides Mental Health Resources for Black LGBTQ+ Youth Amid Black Lives Matter Protests
Tia Dole, Ph.D., Chief Clinical Operations Officer of The Trevor Project, provided a few resources for Black LGBTQ+ youth who may be struggling with their mental health during these troubling times.
The Trevor Project has always been a safe space for people of the LGBT experience to come and learn more about themselves. Since June is Pride Month, the website arranged a list for black LGBT young people to cope with their thoughts, feelings, and emotions in the midst of the Black Lives Matter. Dole also provided ways for people to use their platforms to uplift not only themselves but for their community.
“It’s important to normalize and acknowledge that you may be experiencing some or all of the following feelings,” Dole wrote. “Grief, sense of helplessness, hopelessness, disconnecting from white allies, rage from seeing harmful and frightening coverage on social media, and a desire to escape to safer areas” are reasonable reactions for young black LGBT people to have.
She went on to write how fear and numbness in feelings were also considered. “You may be experiencing a great deal of fear. The things that are happening right now are scary. Fear is a normal reaction to these events; in fact, fear is a protective emotion that is your body’s warning symptom that something is dangerous. Based on what is happening in the world right now, if you are feeling fear, that means that your body’s warning system is working. You may be feeling nothing. For some people, feeling nothing is worse than feeling intense emotions. The events of recent months and years may be too much to process. Numbness can be your body’s reactions to being overwhelmed.”
In addition, Dole presented ways for black and brown youth to take care of themselves to feel relaxed and better understand the world around them.
- Allow yourself to feel your emotions without judgment.
- Work to decrease your emotional intensity.
- Pivot to action.
- Seek support.
Some supporters of The Trevor Project admired the company’s article and engagement with the black LGBT community.
In this time, there’s a lot of unrest and people have been mentally stressed because of everything going on. The Trevor Project is an organization that helps to improve the mental health of black LGBT youth.
Consider donating, and spread the word. https://t.co/LnB9tOA9XR
— SkyLaaa (@HotNSpicySkyLa) June 2, 2020
the celebration of the LGBTQ+ community. Here is an article from the Trevor Project, an organization that is committed to helping LGBTQ+ youth, that discusses how black LGBT individuals can take care of their mental health throughout this crisis. https://t.co/WhdquBXkoV
— Matt Stoel: Candidate for State Rep. MI’s 27th (@mattstoel) June 3, 2020
Dr. Dole ended her article piece with a caring and supportive acknowledgment for black and brown youth to stay strong and know they are never alone.
The Trevor Project‘s crisis counselors are trained and always available to support the unique needs of Black LGBTQ young people, 24/7 and for free.
If you or someone you know is feeling hopeless or suicidal, contact The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline 24/7 at 1-866-488-7386. Counseling is also available 24/7 via chat every day at TheTrevorProject.org/Help, or by texting START to 678-678.
