Raise Awareness About LGBTQ+ Suicide
Raise Awareness About LGBTQ+ Suicide Prevention with a Suicide Awareness Pin
June is the month to celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ+ lives. It’s also a time to open up conversations that bridge the gap between awareness and action. Everyone plays a role in creating more compassionate and informed communities. Our new LGBTQ+ suicide awareness pin was designed with that mission in mind—featuring the rainbow on one side and the teal and purple suicide awareness colors on the other. This unique pin is a symbol of solidarity and a prompt for meaningful dialogue. Every forty seconds, someone dies by suicide. Let’s use this time to make a difference.
Understand the Impacts of Mental Health
Education is the first step toward meaningful change. Read the research. Listen to lived experiences. Watch documentaries. Follow organizations and activists that work on the frontlines of suicide prevention. While the subject may be difficult to sit with, understanding it is crucial—especially when it disproportionately affects marginalized groups.
According to the CDC, the U.S. saw a 33% increase in suicide rates from 1999 to 2019. In 2019 alone, more than 45,000 lives were lost to suicide in the United States. Suicide does not discriminate by race, gender, or age—but LGBTQ+ individuals face a significantly higher risk due to stigma, discrimination, and lack of support.
LGBTQ+ youth are 3.5 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers. Among adults, LGBTQ+ individuals are twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to cisgender, heterosexual adults. The numbers are staggering—and they’re not just statistics. They represent real lives lost and families changed forever.
Mental Health America reported that from January to September 2020, over 77,000 youth experienced frequent suicidal thoughts—more than 27,000 of them were LGBTQ+. These numbers show that young people, especially LGBTQ+ youth, are in crisis. Visibility and advocacy this June aren’t just symbolic—they’re lifesaving. Celebrate LGBTQ+ lives, uplift their stories, and fight for their rights.
Support the LGBTQ+ Community and Raise Awareness About LGBTQ+ Suicide
Every action counts. Speak openly about mental health and keep the conversation alive throughout the year—not just in June. Support local LGBTQ+ organizations. Share accurate, affirming resources. Advocate for inclusive policies in schools, workplaces, and healthcare. Often, LGBTQ+ people face the highest barriers to mental health care and support.
Community stigma and anti-LGBTQ+ attitudes create internalized shame and fear. These environmental stressors increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. Learning the risk factors and warning signs associated with suicide can help prevent it. You don’t need to be an expert to make an impact—you just need to care and be informed.
1. Risk Factors for LGBTQ+ Suicide
Researchers have found a clear link between emotional suffering and exposure to stigma, discrimination, and trauma. The LGBTQ+ community is particularly vulnerable due to systemic inequality and lack of support.
Common risk factors include:
Trauma or abuse
Major life transitions or crises
Substance misuse
Untreated mental health conditions
Physical illness or chronic pain
2. Warning Signs
Behavioral or emotional changes can indicate someone may be considering suicide. These signs may include:
Withdrawal from friends or family
Excessive sleeping or insomnia
Mood swings or irritability
Speaking or posting negatively about themselves
Loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed
Talking about feeling hopeless, trapped, or being a burden
These signs aren’t always obvious. If you see them in someone you care about, speak up. Express concern. Listen without judgment. Take their words seriously.
3. Support and Advocacy
Increased social support and safe spaces have been proven to protect against suicide. Encouraging self-acceptance, inclusion, and community connections reduces isolation. Advocacy helps build networks of support—including family, friends, mentors, and professionals. These relationships foster hope and resilience.
How You Can Help a Loved One in Need
If someone you care about is struggling, don’t wait for the perfect words—just start the conversation. Ask how they’re doing. Let them know they’re not alone. Encourage them to seek professional help. You don’t have to have all the answers, but your presence and empathy matter more than you may realize.
Be mindful of the language you use and validate their experiences. Offer consistent support and help connect them with resources. The Trevor Project, National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, and LGBTQ+ community centers offer crisis lines, chat services, and peer support.
Creating a Culture of Care
Normalizing discussions about mental health and suicide within the LGBTQ+ community is an act of love and advocacy. When we remove the shame around mental health struggles, we allow people to seek help without fear. By fostering a culture of care, we build communities where everyone feels seen, valued, and safe.
Join Personalized Cause® in Raising LGBTQ+ Suicide Awareness
At Personalized Cause®, we believe visibility saves lives. Our LGBTQ+ Suicide Awareness Ribbon Pin serves as a small but powerful reminder that awareness and support must go hand in hand. Wearing this pin shows you care. It says, “I see you. You matter. You’re not alone.”
June is a time of celebration—but it’s also a time to reflect on the work we still need to do. Show your support. Start conversations. Share resources. Advocate for equity. Together, we can make June more than just Pride Month. We can make it a turning point in someone’s life.
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