Hey there, and welcome to Real Talk with Gen Z, a new podcast mini-series. This is a conversation show. Members of Gen Z talk with experts in mental health. They discuss the unique experiences of our generation and explore crucial mental health topics. 

Today’s episode is all about LGBTQ+ mental health, but it’s made for everybody, whether you’re an ally or a member of that community. And if you’re an LGBTQ+ teen, you probably know the pandemic has been especially hard. LGBTQ+ teens have consistently reported declining mental health, higher rates of suicidality, and less connection to others at school. This episode is here to help you or the LGBTQ+ people in your life get through these strange times and find a way to thrive.

In this episode of Real Talk with Gen Z our co-hosts Carolyn Scully and Cicada Fernandez-Turner are joined by Chris Bright, the Director of Public Training at The Trevor Project to talk about how mental health intersects with LGBTQ+ identities.

Real Talk with Gen Z is produced by Psych Hub, and made possible by Aetna, a CVS Health Company. 

Hosts and Guest bios below:

Host: Cicada Fernandez Turner (they/them) is a 21-year-old nonbinary/trans artist and LGBT+ advocate. They have spent the last several years learning and teaching about the community wherever they can. They volunteered with GLSEN for over 4 years as an educator and worked to help build safe online spaces for LGBTQ+ youth through their own platforms on social media and through CenterLink and Q-Chat space. Passionate about their art, they’ve been featured in local galleries and they spend most of their free time painting, drawing, writing and playing music, and of course, taking pictures of their dogs. 

Host: Carolyn Scully (She/Her) is a 23-year-old lesbian woman, young professional and LGBTQ+ advocate. Carolyn currently works in a Leadership Development Program at CVS Health focusing specifically on suicide prevention and strategic community partnerships. Since joining CVS Health in 2021, she has been a member of the PRIDE+ Colleague Resource Group and now serves on the National Leadership Team. In her free time, she enjoys going to Orange Theory Fitness classes, cooking with her girlfriend, and listening to endless Taylor Swift.

Guest: Chris Bright (she/her) is the Director of Public Training at The Trevor Project, the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ youth. Each year they provide life-saving and life-affirming training for youth serving professionals and adults. This year marks Chris' seventh year with the organization and they are currently working to bring Trevor's Lifeguard Workshop into the future with a new cutting edge video series aimed at peer to peer support and general education around mental health and suicide prevention. This series will allow high school and college age folks to better support themselves and others. In addition, Chris educates corporations, municipalities, and organizations on LGBTQ competent suicide prevention, active allyship, and creating inclusive, intersectional environments supportive of LGBTQ people. Chris identifies as Trans and resides in Burbank, CA with her husband, Seth and her dog, Asher. In her spare time she enjoys theater, theme parks and building large-scale LEGO sets.