August's Newsletter

Let's Talk About...Back to School Stress for LGBTQIA+ Youth

Each month, we’re taking a deeper dive into a topic related to trauma-informed or gender-responsive care.

August means back-to-school season: generally a time of increased stress among youth and families. This year, the stress is more intense as LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, asexual, intersex) youth and the educators and caregivers who support them face political challenges that put their well-being at risk. 

On July 17, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) discontinued the "Press 3" option on the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which connected LGBTQIA+ youth to counselors trained in identity-affirming care, a decision which has been widely criticized by mental health professionals and advocates who warn it could lead to increased suicide rates among LGBTQIA+ youth. 

Affirming school environments are supportive to the mental health of LGBTQIA+ youth, but with increased legislative attacks intending to ban gender-affirming care, restrict bathroom access, and limit the use of preferred pronouns in schools, those spaces become more hostile by the day. Thankfully, in Connecticut, there are important legal protections that support LGBTQIA+ youth, including laws that prohibit discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in schools and healthcare settings.  However, even with these protections, the ongoing political climate and external pressures still create significant stress—not only for LGBTQIA+ youth but also for the teachers, families, and behavioral health professionals who stand alongside them.

Scroll down to find practical clinical resources, grounding tips, and affirming strategies to help youth, caregivers, educators, and clinicians navigate this challenging back-to-school season together.

Featured Clinical Resources:

• The Trevor Project's CARE (Connect, Accept, Respond, Empower) Training
  • An interactive and intensive training that provides adults with an overview of suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning youth, and the different environmental stressors that contribute to their heightened risk of suicide for K-12 school staff and educators, higher education staff and faculty, and healthcare professionals.
    
    
• National SOGIE Center Workforce Initiatives & Trainings
  • A series of trainings, some free and self-paced, designed to support LGBTQIA+ young people and their families in a variety of settings, including children involved with child welfare programs. 
    
    
• The National Child Traumatic Stress Network's Transforming Trauma in LGBTQ Youth Series 
  • This series offers concrete strategies and recommendations for providers working with LGBTQ youth who have experienced trauma, including how to increase access to services, create a safe environment for care, and work with families and schools.
    
    
• DMHAS LGBTQIA+ Programs and Services
  • Includes LGBTQIA+ training for DMHAS staff and providers, external training opportunities, and LGBTQIA+ resources. 

Affirming Strategies:

A safe, respectful, and inclusive environment promotes healing, trust, and resilience, not only for youth navigating identity-related challenges, but also for the adults who love, teach, and care for them.

• Use inclusive language.

  • Ask and consistently use clients’ preferred names and pronouns in both conversation and documentation.

  • Avoid assumptions about gender, relationships, or family structures, and extend this respect to youth and their families.

  • Be mindful not to pathologize non-traditional or evolving identities, even when caregivers are unfamiliar or uncertain.

• Educate yourself continuously. 

  • Stay up to date on LGBTQIA+ terminology, current issues, and affirming practices.

  • Be prepared to support caregivers who are learning, grieving, or navigating complex emotions while still affirming their child’s identity.

• Empower autonomy and self-advocacy. 

  • Support youth in building the confidence and skills to set boundaries, make informed decisions, and express themselves authentically.

  • Encourage caregivers to recognize and respect their child’s autonomy as a core component of mental health and safety.

• Create a safe, welcoming environment. 

  • Display visible signs of support, such as Pride flags, inclusive posters, or affirming resources for both youth and families.

  • If possible in your building, ensure that physical spaces, including waiting areas and bathrooms, are gender-inclusive and accessible.

  • Remember: this may be one of the few places where both youth and caregivers feel safe and supported.

• Connect to affirming community resources. 

  • Link youth and caregivers to local LGBTQIA+ organizations, support groups, drop-in centers, crisis lines, and mentorship programs.

  • Normalize help-seeking and community connection as protective factors, not signs of failure.

• Involve caregivers thoughtfully. 

  • Meet caregivers where they are: offer education on LGBTQIA+ mental health, gender identity, and trauma-informed parenting.

  • Help families understand how support and affirmation dramatically reduce the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth.

• Collaborate with other providers. 

  • Collaborate with youth, and when appropriate, with caregivers, on strategies to stay safe at home, at school, or in the community.

  • Identify trusted adults, safe spaces, and personalized coping tools to use in moments of distress or conflict.

• Address unmet basic needs. 

  • Be alert to signs that a youth or family may be struggling with food, housing, transportation, or healthcare.

  • Offer warm referrals to local services, and be a bridge to support whenever possible.

• Integrate trauma-informed care principles.
  • Recognize that LGBTQIA+ youth and their caregivers may be navigating chronic stress, rejection, discrimination, or grief.

• • Offer grounding techniques, self-regulation tools, and transparency in your approach.

  • Provide choices in sessions (activities, seating, pacing) to support autonomy and reduce power imbalances.

  • Be clear about your responsibilities, including confidentiality and reporting, so families understand what to expect and can make informed decisions.

Grounding Tips:

Provided by Alicia Feller, LCSW, Executive Director 

Working with LGBTQIA+ youth can be powerful and deeply meaningful, but also emotionally exhausting. When young people open up about their experiences with trauma, rejection, or discrimination, it can take a toll on the helpers too. Staying grounded is essential, not just to protect your own well-being, but to stay fully present, compassionate, and effective in your work.

Here are some simple, practical grounding strategies to help you regulate in the moment and sustain your energy over time: 

• Maintain clear professional boundaries. Boundaries aren't barriers, they're tools to help you show up without burning out. Be mindful of overextending yourself or taking on emotions that aren't yours to carry. 
• Give yourself permission to step away during the day for basic needs: a snack, a stretch, a bathroom break. 
• After emotionally intense sessions, take 15-30 minutes to ground yourself (when possible) with a deep breathing exercise, like alternate nostril breathing. 
• Stay hydrated. Drinking water may seem simple, but it's one of the quickest and easiest ways to support your body and mind. 
• Journal, write, draw, or engage in any creative practice to help you process your emotions and release what you've absorbed. 
• Seek supervision or peer consultation. Regular check-ins with a trusted supervisor or colleague can provide support and perspective. 
• Stay connected to the world outside of your practice and make time for the things that fulfill you. Your humanity is part of what makes you good at what you do.

The work you do is important, and so is your own well-being. Self-care isn’t indulgent; it’s a professional necessity. Protect your energy, honor your limits, and make sure you're thriving, not just surviving.

Insights & Resources

International Overdose Awareness Day

International Overdose Awareness Day (IOAD) is held on August 31st each year with the intent to reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths and acknowledge the grief of loved ones.

As of February 2025, the CDC's provisional data predicts a nearly 24% decline in drug overdose deaths: about 87,000 from October 2023 to September 2024, down from 114,000 the previous year. Reasons for this decline include widespread availability of naloxone (Narcan), improved access to treatment, including medication-assisted treatment, harm reduction efforts like availability of fentanyl test strips and syringe services programs, along with increased CDC funding to synthesize and act upon data. 

While this decline is optimistic, overdose remains the leading cause of death for Americans aged 18-44. Federal cuts to Medicaid and stricter requirements to coverage, set to go into effect between 2026 and 2028, as a result of the passage of the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act," could negatively impact overdose rates. Additionally, the July 2025 Executive Order "Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets" seeks to cut funding for harm reduction efforts and force mandated treatment for people who use drugs. Sustained investment, policy support, and community-based strategies are crucial to prevent reversal.

It's also important to know that not all overdoses are fatal. Additionally, not all overdoses are opioid overdoses, though two-thirds of overdose deaths in 2023 involved synthetic opioids like fentanyl. People can overdose on many drugs, including synthetic drugs like K2, depressants like barbiturates and sedatives, crystal meth, stimulants like cocaine and Adderall, and alcohol. Learn more about what overdose from different drugs can look like, risk factors for overdose, and the long-term impacts of a non-fatal overdose at Overdoseday.com.

Resources:

• Printable overdose response cards to keep on hand, offer in your office, or share
• DMHAS Naloxone resources
• NORA, a free app from DPH to prevent, treat, and report opioid overdose
• Guide to CT's Opioid Response Prevention Programs
• NEXT Distro CT resources
• Substance Exposed Pregnancy Initiative of Connecticut (SEPI-CT) resources 

What's Happening at The Consortium

Summer may be a slower season for public events and trainings, but behind the scenes, our team has been busy.

We’ve been planning upcoming programs, supporting community initiatives, and continuing to host trainings for DMHAS staff. Even in the quieter months, the work of building trauma-informed, gender-responsive systems keeps moving forward, and we’re excited to share what we’ve been up to.

Community Initiatives
Alicia Feller, LCSW, our Executive Director, facilitated a Stress Smarts training for the Fairfield Police Department Behavioral Health Network, supporting first responders and assisting providers with tools to manage stress and build resilience. Earlier in the month, Alicia and Director of Programs Allie Caruso connected with local leaders and business owners at a Business Before Hours event hosted by the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce, building relationships that help strengthen our community partnerships.

Program Planning
Assistant Project Coordinator Rachael Burs is hard at work organizing upcoming conferences and special events for DMHAS staff, including Trauma Trends and Long to Belong. Meanwhile, Director of Programs Allie Caruso is planning ahead into 2026, curating our Winter Catalog (January–March trainings) and developing new ideas for our annual Community Walk and future development activities.

Resources
Project Coordinator Alana Valdez and Executive Assistant Marisa Pedron are keeping our podcast Realizing Resilience going strong, interviewing expert trainers and regularly releasing new episodes. Alana also just wrapped up the Summer 2025 issue of Trauma Matters and completed the first draft of our upcoming Fall Training Catalog, so keep an eye out!

DMHAS Trainings
Our summer training season for DMHAS staff is in full swing. In June and July, staff participated in several evidence-based practice trainings, including Helping Women Recover, TREM, and Motivational Interviewing. A series on EMDR and Auricular Acupuncture was also offered, expanding access to trauma-responsive techniques.

June also marked the successful hosting of the LGBTQIA+ Conference, where four subject-matter experts shared the latest insights on LGBTQIA+ issues with an audience of over 125 practitioners.

Looking ahead, exciting trainings are on the horizon, including Long to Belong: Utilizing Belonging to Strengthen Our Teams and Our Support on September 3rd, DBT Skills, Seeking Safety, and the Trends in Trauma Treatment Conference on September 19th at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Bristol.

Please note: The above-linked trainings are open to DMHAS staff only.

In addition, the Women’s Services Practice Improvement Collaborative, a collective providing education to providers in DMHAS' Women's Services continuum, recently gathered in person for a day of connection, updates on current initiatives, and shared mindfulness and yoga practices.

New Upcoming Offerings
We're excited to offer a few unique opportunities this fall focused on supporting caregivers and professionals working with individuals affected by dementia and related conditions.

Alzheimer's Disease & Dementia Care Seminar
On October 15th, we’re offering a one-day certification course accredited by the National Council of Dementia Providers for CDP certification. This training provides an essential overview of dementia, Alzheimer’s, and related conditions, covering how they impact thinking, behavior, and daily life. Participants will also gain practical strategies for managing challenging behaviors, navigating emotional responses, improving communication, exploring the role of spirituality, and supporting end-of-life care.

Virtual Caregiver Wellness Series
For the first time, we're hosting a virtual workshop series just for caregivers, whether you're supporting a loved one at home or working in a professional memory care setting. Join Roxie Perregeaux, a National Board Certified Health Coach with over 29 years of experience, for five interactive sessions designed to help caregivers move from surviving to thriving. Topics include:

• • Food as Fuel

  • Everyday Self-Care

  • Mindful Reflection

  • Drafting a Wellness Plan

  • Finding Your Strength

Each session is $20, or register for all five for $90 and save $10.