In this episode of Just Breathe, Heather Hester discusses mental health specific to our LGBTQ kids starting with some tough questions:

1. Why are depression and anxiety increasing in our kids when overall awareness is also increasing?

2. What are the underlying potential causes that ALL youth have in common?

3. What shifts are needed across the board ie. family/school/professionals?

Heather takes a look at the signs and symptoms of depression and anxiety as well as statistics specific to our LGBTQ kids. She talks about the importance of awareness, and being available and then takes apart the "why" as well as the "what we can do."

This episode will not only help you understand LGBTQ-specific adolescent mental health better, but it will also give you tips and information that will help you support your child.

My resources page is a great place to start! I have my favorite websites, articles, and books listed here. I refer to it often, so take a look around. I also add to it monthly, so keep an eye out for new information!

The Trevor Project is a go-to resource for saving young LGBTQ lives.

A personal favorite, Psychology Today allows you to search for all types of therapists using different filters. Love this one!

The Administration for Children and Families will allow you to search for youth and family service agencies in your region. (When in doubt, Google "youth and family services near me.")

An all-around good resource, The National Alliance on Mental Illness provides a plethora of information.

Hi, I’m Heather Hester, and I’m so glad you’re here!

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At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to compassion, authenticity, and transformative allyship, especially for those navigating the complexities of parenting LGBTQ+ kids. Through this podcast, speaking, my writing, and the spaces I create, I help people unlearn bias, embrace their full humanity, and foster courageous, compassionate connection.

If you’re in the thick of parenting, allyship, or pioneering a way to lead with love and kindness, I’m here with true, messy, and heart-warming stories, real tools, and grounding support to help you move from fear to fierce, informed action.

Whether you’re listening in, working with me directly, or quietly taking it all in—I see you. And I’m so glad you’re part of this journey.

More Human. More Kind. formerly Just Breathe: Parenting Your LGBTQ Teen is a safe and supportive space where a mom and mental health advocate offers guidance on parenting with empathy, inclusion, love, and open-minded allyship, fostering growth, healing, connection, and empowerment within the LGBTQ community while addressing grief, boundaries, education, diversity, human rights, social justice, and the power of human kindness through a lens of ally support and community engagement.

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