This event was held on April 5th, 2022 from 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. MT/2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. CT. .
Transgender, non-binary, and gender expansive people in general have an elevated risk for mental health concerns, including suicidality. Gender expansive youth have unique risk factors, particularly in households or school-settings where they are bullied or harassed for their identities (or fearful of disclosing their identity). Research has demonstrated that even one affirming adult in a child’s life can reduce their risk of suicide significantly – making it essential to have a safe and positive environment at school.
This webinar will provide information on some of the most pressing mental health concerns for gender expansive youth and a review of the best practices for mental health care and supportive intervention strategies. We take a wraparound approach to understanding interventions, offering information about individual-level intervention as well as community development and primary prevention efforts.
Keri A. Frantell, Ph.D.
Dr. Keri A. Frantell (she/her/hers) is an assistant professor in Counseling and Counseling Psychology at the University of North Dakota. She earned her doctorate in Counseling Psychology from the University of Tennessee. Her integrated program of research, teaching, service, and advocacy centers on multiculturalism and social justice. In both research and clinical practice, she has extensive experience working with suicidality and LGBTQ+ populations. She has published on factors related to transgender suicidal ideation and attempts, bisexual oppression and the impact on mental and physical health, and the connection between religiosity and suicidality for LGB young adults. She currently leads a research team actively committed to disseminating information and resources to the community.
Ben Gilbert, B.A.
Ben Gilbert (he/they) is a first-year Counseling Psychology PhD student at the University of North Dakota. They graduated summa cum laude with a major in Psychology from Emory University in 2021. Ben’s research interests focus primarily on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ individuals. Ben has pursued these topics on both the graduate and undergraduate levels. In their undergraduate career, Ben was president of their Pride organization (2017-2019) and earned the university’s Transgender Advocate of the Year award in 2021. In graduate school, Ben continues to pursue these topics; he is currently part of a research team focused on developing education materials focused on multiculturalism and inclusion and is in the process of researching transmasculine experiences of and relationship to sexism.
