EduGuide
Official EduGuide for “imi”: A Resource for Educators and Other Providers
About imi
Welcome to the official EduGuide for imi, a free web app built for and with LGBTQ+ teens that helps them explore their identity and support their mental health. We are lucky to live in a time that places more awareness on mental health and the necessity of supporting it. That being said, there are insufficient resources to specifically support LGBTQ+ students on their mental health journey. That’s where imi comes in!
LGBTQ+ teenagers face a unique set of challenges that extend far beyond the process of simply coming out. As educators of young LGBTQ+ people, it is important for us to consider the multitude of pressures, both external and internal, that our students may experience. From online communities to family expectations, it can be challenging for young people to sift through all the messaging they receive. Everyone’s journey is different, and it is of paramount importance for us to remember that a one-size-fits-all approach simply does not work. imi does an excellent job at breaking things down and providing flexible opportunities and resources for personal development.
About the EduGuide
You can download our official EduGuide by clicking the large “DOWNLOAD PDF” button above.
The EduGuide will walk you through imi and provide facilitator guidance. Each lesson in the EduGuide focuses on helping LGBTQ+ students and those who educate them become familiar with the many resources that imi provides. It’s designed for all middle and high school-aged students, but contains specific insight for LGBTQ+ students who may need additional support on their journey toward self-actualization.
As you undergo this work with your students, we encourage you to exercise patience and remember that success looks different for everyone. That being said, imi contains tried and true strategies that can help young people develop more self-awareness, feel more comfortable in their own skin, and become empowered with tools for stress management.
Similar to the Gradual Release of Responsibility model that many of us use in our classrooms, this EduGuide aims to help students explore imi in a safe space where they ask questions and feel the support of a community that cares. Rather than simply sharing the links, our goal here is to guide students to a point where they can eventually use (and even share) these resources independently.