Although the passing of the winter solstice on December 21 means the days are getting longer, Seattleites still won't see much sunlight for the next few months. Anyone who has lived in the Seattle area knows that, as cozy as they might seem, Pacific Northwest winters can be brutal in more ways than one.

According to the University of Washington's Counseling Center, people living in Florida (or anywhere else closer to the equator) have less than a 2% chance of experiencing seasonal depression or seasonal affective disorder, also known as SAD. In northern regions like the PNW and Canada, this rate climbs to about 10%.

Additionally, certain groups — like LGBTQ+ folks — are more prone to general mental health struggles. Whether it's inadequate access to healthcare, strained relationships with family, or a lack of financial support, members of the Queer community in Seattle must often cope with added stressors on top of the winter blues.

As we settle into another winter, here are some local and national resources for anyone who might need extra support.

Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center
Seattle's LGBTQ+ Center, formerly known as Gay City, is one of the city's best hubs for Queer community support. The center was previously located on Pike Street but relocated this spring to 400 E. Pine (at the intersection of Pine St. and Bellevue Ave.) on Capitol Hill.

The organization was founded in 1995 when a group of local activists created the original Gay City in their mission to strengthen Seattle's Queer community during the ongoing HIV epidemic.

To this day, it remains King County's leading HIV and STI testing site. The center also offers general healthcare and gender-affirming services, youth engagement events, art-centered programs, voting assistance, and an online database with dozens of resources. For more information, visit the website at https://www.gaycity.org/ or swing by in person.

Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network
The Trans Women of Color Solidarity Network is a Seattle-based grassroots organization that aims to provide low-and no-barrier financial assistance to Two-Spirit, Trans women, and femmes of color.

Founders Isyss Viena, Mattie Mooney, Lourdez Velasco, and Kelsen Caldwell had all previously worked with nonprofits and wanted to create, as Mattie said in an interview with the nonprofit Blue Heart, "a sustainable fund so folks always have a lifeline or a fund for expenses that come up every day that may or may not be bills."

The TWOCSN team aims to offer unrestricted assistance to those in need without requiring justification or explanation. Since its establishment in September 2018, the group has donated over $800,000 to the community.

For more information, visit the organization's Instagram page @twocsolidaritynetwork.

Somos Seattle
Another grassroots collective, Somos (meaning "we are" in Spanish) is centered around strengthening and supporting LGBTQ+ Latinx folks in Seattle. As stated on the group's website, Somos' goal is "to build an active community, share resources, and foster spaces of learning and growth."

Throughout the year, Somos hosts a variety of events, including a June Pride reception, an exclusive Latinx Pride party, and multiple jotería parties (these offer a Queer spin on the traditional Mexican card game lotería). Beyond facilitating social connection via events, Somos also organizes an ongoing scholarship fund for Latinx and/or LGBTQ+ high school seniors in the Mukilteo School District.

To learn more about support and social events or to donate, see the Somos website at https://www.somosseattle.org/.

Lambert House
Located in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, Lambert House is a Queer youth-centered home and safe space offering social engagement, resources, and fun. Officially established in 1981 as the Association of Gay and Lesbian Youth Advocates, it was the first LGBTQ+ youth-centered organization to receive 501(c)3 status from the IRS.

Today, Lambert House receives between 20 and 40 young visitors every day. The drop-in center at 1818 15th Avenue offers living rooms, pool tables, music stations, books, TV, and games. More than anything, though, it offers social connection.

Seattle's LGBTQ+ youth can also take advantage of Lambert House's wide variety of online meetups and classes; recent offerings included BIPOC groups, neurodiversity and allies groups, Nonbinary groups, and a sexual education seminar, all accessible via Zoom. The Lambert House website also has a section dedicated to mental health resources, complete with tips for finding a good therapist.

To find out more or donate, check out https://www.lamberthouse.org/.

The Trevor Project and TrevorSpace
An American nonprofit founded in 1998, the Trevor Project is well known for its crisis and suicide prevention efforts with Queer youth. The organization offers a 24-hour toll-free phone number so youth can access confidential support from trained counselors.

In its 2021 national survey on LGBTQ+ youth mental health, the Trevor Project found that 42% of LGBTQ youth have seriously considered attempting suicide. Additionally, 72% reported symptoms of generalized anxiety and 62% reported symptoms of major depressive disorder.

In efforts to minimize these numbers, TrevorSpace was born. A secure online networking system, TrevorSpace is accessible almost anywhere in the world and is completely free. While TrevorSpace doesn't offer professional mental health support, it does offer much-needed social connection and networking for users between 13 and 24 years old, a place where they can create profiles, participate in discussion forums, pose questions, and even join featured communities like writing clubs.

Visit https://www.thetrevorproject.org/explore/ or https://www.trevorspace.org/ for more information.