See a difference in your mental health in just 10 minutes!

By Raelee Sweet

Teens today navigate a complex digital world. While the data shows U.S. teens spend an average of 4.8 hours of their day on social media, LGBTQ+ youth spend 3.72 more hours online than their cishet peers, and 41% of teens who spend the most time on social media report poor or very poor mental health. However, for 68% of LGBTQ+ youth, the internet offers a lifeline, providing vital access to affirming online spaces that can be life-saving resources for belonging and support

It’s a double-edged sword, but the reality is that teens are online and teens need safe, affirming spaces where they can thrive. So what if instead of starting the day with the noise of social media, LGBTQ+ youth spent 10 minutes invested in an app that actively uplifts their identity and supports their mental health? 

This is the promise of imi.guide, a digital tool for LGBTQ+ mental health, rooted in science and research, helping to make sure that it’s safe, supportive, and impactful for LGBTQ+ teens. All of the content has been created, vetted, and tested by scientists, therapists and other professionals.

Supplemental content has been created by LGBTQ+ youth for their peers.This focus on mental health, partnered with a youth perspective, is essential, grounding imi’s approach in the lived reality of its users and emphasizing the importance of resilience. 

“One of the most important things that you can do in whatever climate you’re in is hang on. Hang on to that battered thread of hope, because one day you will repair it with all of the good that has come your way. The strongest act of resistance is the joy of living your own life. That means sticking with your hobbies, finding the joy even in bland routines, and learning what keeps you going even when you feel like there are enormous things trying to stop you.” – Angelo (he/they), 16, Youth Voices ambassador from Kentucky.

Imi empowers users by focusing on four core topics: stress, queerness, stigma, and gender. One of the most used activities is What influenced how you see gender?, where youth can courageously explore what gender is, how it was taught to them, and how they truly feel about it. For many young people who lack a space to discuss these critical topics, these activities offer a transformative opportunity to define it for themselves.

The results reflect this profound empowerment: many respondents boldly disagree with restrictive teachings on gender from their families and communities, and feel inspired to write their own, authentic definition. One of our former Youth Voices, Aki, from Iowa at age 18, recalls their own experience with exploring gender and how imi would have made an impact:

“I remember the moment I came out to myself. It was this confusing, concerning, what-am-I-going-to-do, what-does-this-even-mean moment that, even years later, stands out starkly in my mind. And while I felt isolated by this sensation at the time, I’ve come to realize that the experience of uncertainty and nervous curiosity around one’s identity is incredibly common, especially among LGBTQ+ young people. And that’s why I think imi is so important. As a guide created ‘for and with LGBTQ+ teens’ in mind, it is perfect for those naturally confusing, concerning, question-raising moments because it has the power to not only answer these questions but also to let us know we are not alone in asking them.” – Aki, 18, Iowa

In a world that often feels noisy and isolating, imi is a beacon of hope and a powerful act of resilience. It’s an invitation to step away from the overwhelm and invest just 10 minutes a day in affirming your identity, boosting your confidence, and building the strength to live your most authentic life. Start your journey toward self-discovery and well-being today on imi.guide.

– Raelee Sweet is the Manager of Education for It Gets Better and oversees Youth Voices and imi.