Content Warning: This article discusses mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know are experiencing suicidal thoughts, call or text the national suicide prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255,...

With suicide being the second largest leading cause of death for those age 15 to 24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and LGBTQ+ students being about five times more likely to attempt suicide compared to their non-LGBTQ+ peers, suicide prevention awareness month and its importance to the LGBTQ+ community is more crucial than ever.

“There’s no shame in being depressed; there’s no shame in feeling suicidal,” Dr. Kathy O’Connor said. In any one year, over 17 million Americans report feeling depressed, and over half of...