The “It Gets Better” Program was started in 2010 and it connects to youth through the internet in the form of videos of celebrities and politicians with the message… “It Gets Better.”

What is LGBTQ?  This is the term for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning  people.

Why does this program exist?  LGBTQ youth may feel isolated from elders and mentors and the program is intended to show these at-risk youth who may live in rural towns and enduring teenage-hood that life will improve over time.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC) states that suicide is the second-leading cause of death in youths aged 10-24 years old.  A LGB youth of color further increases that risk.  For those who identify as transgender as many as 25% report suicide attempt.  Of the 300 million Americans, 5% identify as LGBTQ.  It is not thought that mental illness is higher in this population, but rather they are tied to society’s lack of understanding and support of this population.

Visit http://www.itgetsbetter.org/ for more information!