GROWING UP CAN BE TOUGH. Between school, parental pressure, raging adolescent hormones, and trying to fit in, young people often feel overwhelmed and unable to cope. In the last few years, suicide surpassed homicide to become the second leading cause of death for teenagers, and its rise has been felt across nearly every demographic, especially women and girls. While there are a myriad of factors that lead a person to take their own life, there’s one group that’s having an even tougher time than their peers: LGBTQ youth.

Gay, lesbian, and bisexual young people are almost five times as likely to attempt suicide as their straight peers,” says Amit Paley, chief executive officer and executive director of The Trevor Project, an organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ people under 25.

While suicide rates have been on the rise for LGBTQ youth, Paley says the contentious political climate has prompted even more young people to consider the option and reach out to his group for help. This year, The Trevor Project is on track to serve 75,000 young LGBTQ people across its text, phone, and online messaging channels. And while the organization normally raises between $6 million and $7 million annually, since the 2016 election cycle The Trevor Project has received more than $9 million in donations.

Read the full article by Britni Danielle about youth suicide from GOOD Education