What You Should Know:
- ShareWell, the first peer support platform connecting people over shared life experiences for healing and connection, today announced a new partnership with Active Minds, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization mobilizing youth and young adults to change the culture around mental health.
- In honor of World Mental Health Awareness Day (October 10) and LGBTQ History Month, ShareWell will donate one year of mental health support to 100 Active Minds young adults who identify as LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning and/or asexual). This donation kicks off a campaign and larger initiative to provide year-long mental health support to 1,000 at-risk LGBTQIA+ youths.
Enabling Improved Accessibility of Mental Health Resources by Overcoming Disparities
LGBTQIA+ youth experience a greater risk for mental health conditions and are twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers. Yet, a staggering 60% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, according to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. The ShareWell and Active Minds partnership helps address the urgent need for LGBTQIA+ mental health support by giving youth and young adults the opportunity to connect with a community of peers who share similar life experiences in an emotionally safe environment via ShareWell’s platform.
“It’s more important now than ever that LGBTQIA+ youth have access to the mental health support they need as this demographic is reporting depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts at an alarming rate,” said CeCe Cheng, founder and CEO of ShareWell. “We are honored to partner with Active Minds to not only bring awareness to the lack of mental health support available but to also provide a solution. Our partnership makes peer support more accessible and provides resources designed to help young adults foster a community and culture of acceptance.”
LGBTQIA+ youth are one of the most at-risk demographics for poor mental health that goes unsupported and untreated. Eighty-three percent report having anxiety and 45% have seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Peer support is a powerful aid in improving the mental health of these young adults as studies show LGBTQ youths who have a community of accepting peers have significantly lower rates of suicide.
