My experience with mental health includes my service as a crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, the leading crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ members aged 12 to 25 years old. The Trevor Project is heavily involved in research to maintain this high standard. The organization found that Black and Latino youth who experience similar symptoms of mental health disorders as the total population is significantly less likely to receive professional care than their counterparts. The Trevor Project serves those who might not be receiving the care they deserve because of a lack of diversity and inclusion in healthcare systems, high costs of mental health care, long wait times to see a healthcare provider, and more. I am honored to have the opportunity to mend this gap. Through the Trevor Project, I have connected with brave youth and compassionate coworkers. In addition, I discovered a more fulfilled version of myself. These experiences have helped confirm that I want to continue practicing this type of support throughout my future career as a physician associate in psychiatry. As a crisis counselor, I begin each encounter with a youth contact by establishing rapport and completing a risk assessment. Examples of crises I work with include self-harm, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or hardships in a relationship due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Next, I gather information for various reasons, including if emergency services are needed. I then aid in exploring alternatives, such as developing a safety plan. Safety plans include how to distance someone from immediate harm, brainstorming coping mechanisms, and determining appropriate goals for that individual. Every encounter with a person in need is an opportunity to make a difference and grow as a provider. I will never forget the trust I built and the composure I sustained to disengage a particular youth from harm. The first thing that they stated was, “I have a gun in my hand, and I can’t stop shaking.” The strength it takes for any particular youth to reach out is immense. For this individual, I began by reminding them of their bravery for reaching out before proceeding to deescalate the situation. With the individual, we created a safety plan that included determining coping strategies, reaching out for help, and answering a phone call from the Trevor Project the following day. It was a moving experience to deescalate a life or death situation and create a plan that would allow for continued safety. This scholarship would assist in my persistence in growing the trust between healthcare and diverse LGBTQ youth. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I have a close connection to this community and want to work the rest of my life for them and other groups of people who have experienced hardships in healthcare. I will use my knowledge gained from the Trevor Project and my education to become an excellent physician associate. In parallel, I will use what I learn as a physician associate to help the Trevor Project and other crisis services.

Throughout my volunteer work, I have been involved in imminent risk cases. I want to prevent patients from getting to this point by working in pediatric medicine with a strong focus in preventative care. I am grateful to serve as a volunteer crisis counselor for the Trevor Project, the leading crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ members aged 12 to 25 years old. The Trevor Project is heavily involved in research to maintain this high standard. The organization found that Black and Latino youth who experience similar symptoms of mental health disorders as the total population are significantly less likely to receive professional care than their counterparts. The Trevor Project serves those who might not be receiving the care they deserve because of a lack of diversity and inclusion in healthcare systems, high costs of mental health care, long wait times to see a healthcare provider, and more. I am honored to have the opportunity to mend this gap. Through the Trevor Project, I have connected with brave youth and compassionate coworkers. In addition, I discovered a more fulfilled version of myself. These experiences have helped confirm that I want to continue practicing this type of support throughout my future career as a physician associate in pediatrics. As a crisis counselor, I begin each encounter with a youth contact by establishing rapport and completing a risk assessment. Examples of crises I work with include self-harm, suicidal thoughts, anxiety, depression, or hardships in a relationship due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Next, I gather information for various reasons, including if emergency services are needed. I then aid in exploring alternatives, such as developing a safety plan. Safety plans include how to distance someone from immediate harm, brainstorming coping mechanisms, and determining appropriate goals for that individual. Every encounter with a person in need is an opportunity to make a difference and grow as a provider. I will never forget the trust I built and the composure I sustained to disengage a particular youth from harm. The first thing that they stated was, “I have a gun in my hand, and I can’t stop shaking.” The strength it takes for any particular youth to reach out is immense. For this individual, I began by reminding them of their bravery for reaching out before proceeding to deescalate the situation. With the individual, we created a safety plan that included determining coping strategies, reaching out for help, and answering a phone call from the Trevor Project the following day. It was a moving experience to deescalate a life or death situation and create a plan that would allow for continued safety. This scholarship would assist in my persistence in growing the trust between healthcare and diverse LGBTQ youth. As a member of the LGBTQ community, I have a close connection to this community and want to work the rest of my life for them and other groups of people who have experienced hardships in healthcare. I will use my knowledge gained from the Trevor Project and my education to become an excellent physician associate in pediatrics. In parallel, I will use what I learn as a physician associate to help the Trevor Project and other crisis services.