Published: September 18, 2023

September is National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month. As students return to classrooms, advocates want educators to be on the lookout for warning signs and to be particularly aware of LGBTQ+ students’ need for school support.

In Oregon, 44% of LGBTQ+ youths have considered suicide in the past year and 14% have attempted suicide, according to a 2022 mental health survey from The Trevor Project. The 2019 Student Success Act led to the creation of the LGBTQ2SIA+ Student Success Plan Advisory Group to create a plan to support Oregon students.

The Oregon State Board of Education Chair Guadalupe Martinez Zapata and Vice Chair Jennifer Scurlock have offered powerful video thoughts about suicide awareness in schools.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness also offers suicide prevention resources geared toward all students’ return to school.