To help educators create an environment of inclusivity and acceptance for LGBTQ+ students, the University of Oregon's HEDCO Institute created a quick summary of five evidence-supported strategies for schools.
They range from the creation of Gay-Straight Alliance clubs to inclusive curricula and anti-bullying policies. The blueprints are aimed at bolstering school support for LGBTQ+ students, who are twice as likely to experience depression, anxiety, self-harm, and risk of suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to a 2017 study published in The Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry.
Research shows a lack of supportive environments is a strong risk factor for LGBTQ+ youth substance use, and many LGBTQ+ youth report fewer social supports from teachers and peers than their non-LGBTQ+ peers.
"A key part of our mission at the HEDCO Institute is to make research more useful to educators," said Elizabeth Day, a research assistant professor who worked on the summary. "Our goal was to distill the findings of a rigorous, high-quality review on supporting LGBTQ+ youth so decisionmakers could find approaches and resources for implementation all in one place."
