In Brenner’s experience, there are a lot of people who see depression as simply being in a bad mood. They don’t realize that depression is a diagnosable and treatable condition. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, mood disorders like depression are the third most common reason for hospitalization among youth and adults between the ages of 18 and 44.
depression gay straight alliance lgbt mental health mental illness Pierce College spotlight support groupsIn fact, studies have confirmed that transgender older adults suffer far higher levels of depression, disability and loneliness than nontransgender older adults. Seventy-one percent of transgender older adults have contemplated taking their own lives, compared with just 3.7 percent of the general U.S. population.
Aging depression health health care lgbt mental health spotlight TransAllowing any two people who are in love to wed and live the rest of their lives out together is a beautiful thing. It’s about love and togetherness. What it is not is an invitation for an ongoing war of hate between Christians and LGBT allies alike. Whether you love someone who shares your gender or you love to share the word of Jesus, or even both these things, everyone deserves love and acceptance for who they are.
gay marriage gender identity LGBT marriage religion secular sexual identity spotlightThe issue is particularly troubling in Merced, which ranks third the state in the number of disconnected youth, or people ages 16-19 who are neither in school or employed. Nearly 12 percent of young people here fit into that category, at exactly the age when young people are desperate for a job or educational path forward.
central valley jobs first job hiring job skills jobs merced merced jobs networking spotlight unemployment youth employment youth unemploymentAttending GWU is a privilege, but adapting to a campus life has been a challenge. Working in the nursery, while I was the only college student there, everyone I saw at least looked like me, or like they could be an uncle or even a grandparent. GWU couldn’t be more different. Students here come from all over the world. Nearly 10 percent are international, more than the total number of Latino students enrolled in the entire school. And as far as I know, I am the only student from the Central Valley.
agricultural work buhach high school central valley farm work field work george washington university GWU merced spotlight washington DCAround 75 people attended the ceremony which included speakers, live performances, food and a silent auction. The Center provides resources and serves as a safe space for LGBTQ youth and allies to gather.
LGBTQ lgbtq youth Merced LGBT center safe place spotlight