How safe spaces save LGBTQ lives and what parents, schools and communities can do to create them

<p>On the third and final episode in our <a href='https://www.northwell.edu/mentalhealth'>series on child suicide prevention</a>, we discuss the spike in suicidality among our LGBTQIA+ youth, as reported in 2023 by the Centers for Disease Control &amp; Prevention, as well as The Trevor Project. David Rosenthal, DO, PhD, and Helena Roderick, PhD, highlight the many challenges negatively impacting these kids, including minority stress, discrimination and unconscious bias, and how each contributes to this horrifying trend. They share what individuals and community institutions can do to help curb the high rates of suicidal ideation and behaviors.</p> More about the experts: <ul><li><a href='https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/internal-medicine/dr-david-walter-rosenthal-do-phd-11317265'>David Rosenthal, DO, PhD</a>, is founding medical director for Northwell Health’s Center for Transgender Care and medical director for Northwell’s Center for Young Adult, Adolescent, and Pediatric HIV.</li> <li><a href='https://www.northwell.edu/find-care/find-a-doctor/psychology/dr-helena-ann-roderick-phd-11316097'>Helena Roderick, PhD</a>, is senior psychologist for the Center for Transgender Care and the Center for Young Adult, Adolescent, and Pediatric HIV and the Division of Medical Genetics.</li> </ul> <p>Our team launched this series during National Suicide Prevention Month in September to offer parents and caregivers a resource as they navigate this very difficult reality, particularly as children return to school. Listen to the previous episodes in this series:</p> <ul><li><a href='https://www.northwell.edu/news/insights/suicidality-children-what-caretakers-need-to-know'>Kids in crisis: How to start the conversation about child suicidality</a> featuring Vera Feuer, MD, director of Emergency Psychiatry Services at Cohen Children’s Medical Center</li> <li><a href='https://www.northwell.edu/news/insights/podcast-yourmomcares-how-you-feel'>YourMomCares about how you feel</a>, featuring Sharon Feldstein, co-founder a