Oakland Family Services now offers a support group for youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ+).

The adolescent support group, True2Themselves, is available to clients in Oakland Family Services’ Specialized Services for Youth Program who are 12-18 years old. Meetings are held 5:30-6:30 p.m. every Thursday at the agency’s Pontiac office, 114 Orchard Lake Road.

True2Themselves provides a safe and confidential place for teens to discuss the challenges they face with their gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

“For some teens, one parent may be supportive and the other not, or they can be ‘out’ at home but not with extended family, or they can’t tell their parents at all,” said Christopher Schrimscher, clinical intern at Oakland Family Services.

The fear of coming out and being discriminated against for sexual orientation and gender identities can lead to depression, anxiety, substance use, and thoughts of suicide, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

LGBTQ+ people with mental health conditions also often find themselves fighting a double stigma. They may experience prejudice based on their sexual and/or gender identity as well as stigma from mental health issues with which they may be dealing.

At True2Themselves, youth can talk about any of these issues in a stigma-free environment.

“We want them to be open and comfortable with their identity in all areas of their life, at school, at home, with friends and family,” Schrimscher said.

Meetings are attended on a drop-in basis. Interested clients can contact their therapist for more information.