Alex, 16, is non-binary (their pronouns are they/them) and was experiencing extreme bullying in school — so much so that they dropped out their freshman year. School had already been difficult for Alex as they have severe agoraphobia, leaving them feeling unsafe anywhere outside of their apartment. Also, their mom, who is undocumented, had recently been diagnosed with MLS and was struggling to continue to work and take care of her two children. When Alex began to experience suicidal ideations, their older sister suggested they find a therapist. 

Given Alex’s financial situation, they could not afford therapy. Luckily, they were referred to Amanecer where they could access treatment at no cost.
 
When Alex began treatment at Amanecer, in addition to agoraphobia, they were diagnosed with dissociative disorder, depression, and tics. At first, they did not feel very comfortable opening up, but their therapist was very patient and made sure to always properly address Alex with their correct pronouns. Soon, Alex was opening up about their past and present. As a child, Alex had an uncle that sexually abused them. They also witnessed their father physically and verbally abuse their mother for years. One night, their father got so loud and violent, the neighbors called the police on him and he was arrested. Because their father was also undocumented, he was deported back to Mexico shortly thereafter. Alex has not seen their father in 8 years. Unfortunately, Alex’s mother began to be verbally abusive to Alex and their sister for the two years following their father’s deportation. 

Alex had a lot of anger towards their mom, but their therapist helped them work to better communicate with her. Their mom soon began to be more respectful of Alex’s preferred pronouns and more understanding of their fear of going outside. With the support of their therapist and case manager, Alex reenrolled in remote school. Alex’s case manager has also helped their mother access community resources to help the family stay afloat financially. Alex still struggles with leaving the apartment, and the pandemic did not help those fears, but they’ve expressed recently that they might try to go for a walk down the block.

Alex’s experience is not unique. A 2020 Trevor Project study revealed that 54% of LGBTQ youth surveyed who reported wanting mental health care did not receive it. And financial barriers were one of the most cited reasons. 

At Amanecer, we feel privileged that we have been able to assist Alex on their journey. We hope to be able to continue providing care for those who need it most and otherwise would not be able to access it. And that’s where you come in! 

We are only able to provide our accessible, comprehensive services thanks to donations from individuals like you. Can you give $5 today to ensure we can help more kids like Alex?

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