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Isolation: Common Ground for LGBTQ Youth & Seniors

Some months bring awareness to more than one issue, and May is one of those months. May is Mental Health Awareness Month, as well as Older Americans Month.

“Intergenerational” is a new buzzword that Montrose Counseling Center embraces with the SPRY (Seniors Preparing for Rainbow Years) and HATCH programs. HATCH  has been around for 25 years, while the SPRY program has just six years under its belt.

Society is just now acknowledging that bullying lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth is a public health crisis which may result in death/suicide. Bullying leads to isolation, a condition that often precedes suicide for LGBTQ adolescents. But isolation affects people of all ages. For LGBTQ Seniors, many are estranged from a family who never accepted them. Many have lost their partners or remained single their entire lives. Many have a limited income, and declining health. Many are afraid to drive long distances or at night. Many are mourning their younger selves in a culture that’s biased toward the young, fit and attractive. Many won’t be able to read this because they don’t own a computer, have a smart phone, a Facebook profile or even an email address.  Like their teen counterparts, isolation threatens our senior population. They, too, are at increased risk for suicide.

Because LGBTQ seniors are more vulnerable to this, along with prescription drug misuse, Montrose Counseling Center has launched the 4Ever Family Program. Through this, we offer a one-hour suicide prevention class for anyone in the community to attend. You never know when someone might need your help. We’ll show you how approach your peers in casual conversation, look for warning signs and make referrals when you find someone in distress.

We’ve staggered these classes, twice a month. One is in the afternoon and one is in the evening. Upcoming evening classes are scheduled at 6 p.m. on June 12 and July 10. Daytime classes will be held at 2 p.m. on June 20 and July 18. If you would like more information about the 4Ever Family Program and are interested in becoming a volunteer advocate or ambassador, or if you know of someone else who cares about the well being of LGBT seniors and has some spare time to give, please contact our Volunteer Specialist by phone at (713) 529-0037 x395 or by email.

Part of Older Americans Month focuses on the importance for seniors to stay active. Our SPRY Program also offers socials twice a month. A potluck is held on the 2nd Thursday of every month, from 4 – 6 p.m. in Room 101. On the 3rd Thursday, we gather at the same place to watch a movie from 1 – 3 p.m. The socials are open to anyone age 60 and older, and you do not have to be enrolled in the SPRY Program to join the fun. Encourage others to participate, too. We are doing what we can, with your  help, to reduce the isolation of our community members.

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