Keeping your specialization area in mind, provide examples of how you might increase the cultural appropriateness of a counseling theory, technique, or intervention at an agency, practice, or school so that they promote the optimal health and well-being of sexual minorities.
In your analysis of the counseling role, think of the purpose and role it serves in carrying out an organization's mission in prevention, education, conflict resolution, intervention, consultation, and advocacy. Use the story of "Jamie Hubley, Gay 15-Year-Old Ottawa, Canada Teen Commits Suicide, Cites Depression, School Troubles" in conjunction with the resources you explored to support your strategies and ideas.
Specialization: Mental health Counseling
Jamie Hubley, a gay 15-year-old from Ottawa, Canada, committed suicide on Friday.
The 10th grade student documented his life, including his depression and the hardships of being a gay teen, in a blog, reports the Ottawa Citizen.
The blog, called "You Can't Break... When You're Already Broken" featured posts with numerous references to and photos of self harm and cutting, pictures of guys kissing and mentions of wanting a boyfriend, and bleak, ominous messages like "Sometimes I wish the breeze would just take me with it," "The only thing worse than being hated is being ignored. At least when they hate you they treat you like you exist," and "Suicides is always an option."
Other posts revealed how difficult school was for Hubley:
His last post, which he wrote on Friday, paints a heartbreaking portrait of a boy looking for - and ultimately unable to find - acceptance:
Im a casualty of love.
Well, Im tired of life really. Its so hard, Im sorry, I cant take it anymore.
First Id like to mention my friends Nancy, Abby, Colleen, jemma, and Kasia
Being sad is sad : /. I'v been like this for way to long. I cant stand school, I cant stand earth, I cant stand society, I cant stand the scars on my arms, I cant f***ing stand any f***ing thing.
I dont want my parents to think this is their fault either... I love my mom and dad : ) Its just too hard. I dont want to wait 3 more years, this hurts too much. How do you even know It will get better? Its not.
I hit rock f***ing bottom, fell through a crack, now im stuck.
My favorite singers were lady gaga , Adele , Katy perry, and Jessie james, Christina aguilara and most of all I think KASIA!!! YOU LOVED Singing, and she helped me a lot : ) Im not that good at it though :"/, Im going to miss you guys
Il fly away.
"From the outside, he looked like the happiest kid. He was always smiling and giving everybody hugs in the halls," said Steph Wheeler, a close friend of Hubley's.
"I just remember him wanting a boyfriend so bad, he'd always ask me to find a boy for him. I think he wanted someone to love him for who he was," she said.
A Facebook page dedicated to Hubley has been set up and students are planning a memorial performance in his honor.
Hubley's death comes just weeks after American teen Jamey Rodemeyercommitted suicide after being bullied for being gay.
While many, including Lady Gaga who has called for bullying to be made illegal and Dan Savage who began the It Gets Better campaign, are working to help gay teens, sadly, it's obvious there remains much work to be done.
Hubley's father, Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubley, released a statement last night saying that his son was bullied in school and that his family believes it was a factor in his suicide. Discussing a "Rainbow Club" that Jamie tried to start at his high school to promote acceptance of others, Allan Hubley said:
"The posters were torn down and he was called vicious names in the hallways and online... We will not say that the bullying was the only reason for James's decision to take his own life but it was definitely a factor...We hope from our tragedy others will become more active in stopping this cruelty towards children."