Giving New Mexico’s LGBTQ+ youth a listening ear [Video]

KOAT continues to share stories from our state’s LGBTQ+ communities throughout Pride Month. One issue that plagues the community is the negative mental health impact caused by a lack of support and resources. Staff at the Agora Crisis Center in Albuquerque know this well.Agora Crisis Center Director Dasie Kent frequently asks a heavy question when manning the hotline: “Have you been having thoughts of suicide recently?” It’s difficult, but potentially life-saving.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 NewsLike Kent, Agora’s staff members answer the hotline around the clock—trained to help people experiencing day-to-day stressors, depression, or crisis.“We offer a listening ear,” explained Malaya Ramos, Agora’s Campus Outreach Coordinator. “We build rapport with our callers. If they are in a crisis, and there’s multiple stages to it, we assess them for suicide and the risk of that. From there, we talk to them, and are able to de-escalate the …