Explore how LGBTQIA+ teens and young adults can nurture their identities in the face of discrimination and violence, and how tapping into the strengths of their own experiences and community can support their emotional well-being.
Find SupportThe Jed Foundation (JED) is a nonprofit that protects emotional health and prevents suicide for our nation’s teens and young adults, giving them the skills and support they need to thrive today…and tomorrow.
Research shows that building resiliency and life skills, promoting social connectedness, and encouraging help-seeking and help-giving behaviors in teens and young adults supports their overall well-being, helps them thrive, and protects their emotional health, making it less likely they will fall into unhealthy behaviors. JED uses digital campaigns, the media, and partnerships to engage teens and young adults where they are and in a way they’ll understand.
Explore JED’s programs that reach millions of young people every year.For students, their school community is a critical part of their support network and emotional safety net. JED works directly with high schools, colleges, and universities representing millions of students to put systems, programs, and policies in place to create a culture of caring that protects student mental health, builds life skills, and makes it more likely students will seek help and struggling students will be recognized, connected to mental health care, and supported.
Learn more about JED’s programs for high schools and colleges.Our mental health is impacted by the world around us. There are a range of factors that can influence the perspective, well-being, and behaviors of our teens and young adults including families, friends, media, and high-profile voices. JED partners with these communities to create a culture of caring, grounded in deeper understanding and reduced shame and secrecy, and to collaborate on amplifying their positive impact while minimizing potential harm.
Find out how JED is activating communities across the country and beyond.Tess Kunik is a teaching artist, writer, and mental health advocate. After the loss of her sister Liv to suicide in 2019, Tess and her mom established The Liv Project in her honor. For so long, Liv, Tess, and their family felt the need to hide their struggle with depression and other mental health issues. But after Liv passed, Tess realized the secrecy and stigma was helping no one. Tess and fellow suicide survivor Dana Fuchs open up about depression, body image and dysmorphia, survivors guilt, coping skills, and more.
Watch the full conversation
If you or someone you know needs to talk to someone right now, text, call, or chat 988 for a free confidential conversation with a trained counselor 24/7.
You can also contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741-741.
If this is a medical emergency or if there is immediate danger of harm, call 911 and explain that you need support for a mental health crisis.
