Our kids’ mental health is suffering because of the pandemic—here’s how H&M and The Trevor Project are working together to make a difference

No matter who or where you are, each of us felt the effects of the pandemic in deep ways. There were lost opportunities. There were lost connections. There were lost interactions. And the list goes on…

As adults and especially as parents, this has undoubtedly been a challenge. But, for our kids, the past two years have pushed mental health struggles to a crisis level: According to a 2022 report from the American Psychological Association, pandemic-stressors resulted in a 31% increase in mental health-related emergency department visits for children aged 5 to 11 in the latter part of 2020. 

Suicide is already the second-most leading cause of death among young people, which has been further exacerbated by the pandemic. In response this month, the American Academy of Pediatrics called for clinicians to screen everyone between the ages of 10 and 24 for suicide risk. 

The statistics are more pronounced among LGBTQ young people. LGBTQ preteens and teens are four times more likely to consider suicide than straight peeers. Among transgender and non-binary youth, more than 50% have seriously considered suicide. 

Related: I’m the mother of a trans child. Gender-affirming care saved my teen’s life

Adding to the problem are the disparities in resources available to children, preteens and teens throughout the country. That’s why The Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people, is so vital—and so is the work H&M is doing to raise awareness for the mission through its partnership with The Trevor Project.

Three years into H&M and The Trevor Project’s partnership, there is ample evidence of how much good their work together is doing. During the past year alone, volunteers from The Trevor Project have answered more than 200,000 calls, chats and texts through services funded in part by H&M.

Beyond that, H&M and The Trevor Project’s partnership has enabled…

• Matched funding through The Trevor Project’s Pride 2021, Giving Tuesday 2020 and 2021 giving campaigns
• A safe, welcoming culture of service and allyship fostered through H&M
• More funding for ​​TrevorLifeline, TrevorChat andTrevorText
• Improved reach to raise awareness among BIPOC LGBTQ young people

As a company with a significant public presence, H&M also helps to expand The Trevor Project’s reach. A big part of this mission is engaging H&M employees to be active, inclusive leaders in service to help end suicide among LGBTQ young people. 

This partnership brings attention to a topic that is stigmatized and hard to discuss—especially for parents. By extending resources and support to young people in need, we can make progress toward ending suicide. 

Donate to The Trevor Project here to help save more young LGBTQ lives.

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