Supporting Young People During the Holidays
December 20, 2022
At this busy time of year, it’s critical for mentors to make an extra effort to stay connected to the young people in their lives. The holidays can be a particularly difficult time, and with loneliness and isolation on the rise and the declaration of a youth mental health crisis by the U.S. Surgeon General, it is important for caring adults to have the tools they need to support young people — especially groups experiencing marginalization like LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC youth.
Below are some resources that mentors and mentoring programs can use to help ensure they can best support their mentees.
Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
- LGBTQ Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice of Mentoring™
- National Association of School Psychologists’ Gender Inclusive Schools FAQ
- Human Rights Campaign’s Youth Report
- National Mentoring Resource Center’s LGBTQ+ youth population review
- The Trevor Project’s Support Center and Crisis Helpline: 1-800-850-8078
- UCLA’s Williams Institute’s Ensuring Access to Mentoring Programs for LGBTQ Youth
Becoming a Better Mentor: Strategies to Be There for Young People
- Becoming a Better Mentor: Ch. 1, Providing Emotional Support and Empathy
Critical Mentoring
- Critical Mentoring Supplement to the Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring™
Race, Inclusion, and Cultural Respect
- Guide to Mentoring Boys and Young Men of Color
- Supporting Youth in the Wake of Trauma
- Masculinity Guide
- Tips for Leading with Intention and Taking Action Steps in the Fight for Racial Justice
If a young person you know is in distress and needs immediate support, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.