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Hi there,
My name is Alaska. I’m a mother of four. My second oldest child, Orion (he/him/his), is 15 years old, identifies as queer and is a sophomore in high school. I’m going to start off by bragging a little on Orion’s behalf because I’m just so proud. Orion is already president of his high school’s Gender and Sexual Awareness Club. His group is now one of the largest clubs in the high school. He works tirelessly to make high school a more inclusive place for all students and brings awareness to suicide prevention. I’m so excited for Orion and his commitment to helping those who feel marginalized but I also worry for him because I know this is a sensitive time for many young people.
The time between the ages 10 and 19 can be the most formative years for a young person, and sadly, suicide is the second leading cause of death for this age group. When these kids come to my house and eat with our family, their pain is even more personal. I have to help. I need to do something, and that’s why I’m advocating for the Model School Policy with The Trevor Project.
I will encourage Orion to continue his work in school to shed light on this issue and direct students towards life-affirming care like The Trevor Project’s TrevorLifeline. And I’m working with teachers and school administrators to spread awareness for youth suicide prevention and provide resources for them to support students. I am also very happy to go to school board meetings to share what The Trevor Project has taught me with their Model School Policy and to try to get them to implement a comprehensive suicide prevention policy in our district. School districts that implement these policies can help schools ensure that students in crisis are referred to supportive resources and that suicides within the school community are addressed appropriately.
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