By Katie Crowther
TMJ4
June 13, 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
MILWAUKEE \u2014 A recent University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee graduate created a program to help support LGBTQ youth \u2014 both mentally and emotionally \u2014 and it launched statewide in the middle of the pandemic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s called PRISM, which stands for Peer Recover in Supportive Mutuality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s the brainchild of Erica Steib, who came up with the concept for her final project while studying at 51ÁÔÆæ\u2019s Zilber School of Public Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
PRISM was put into use by the organization Mental Health America of Wisconsin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a safe place to explore concepts around identity and mental health,\u201d Steib said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Steib is leading a team of seven certified peer support specialists, including Jay Zulhlke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is so important to have someone to talk to who gets it,\u201d Zuhlke said. \u201cYou can be authentically you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They monitor a phone line and email account and guarantee a response within hours to provide support to anyone who reaches out. Through text messaging, phone calls, virtual, and in-person meet-ups, the peer support specialist helps that person navigate challenges and goals. More importantly, the peer support specialist is someone to talk to about anything, without judgement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe can talk about anything,\u201d Zuhlke said. \u201cWhat it\u2019s like coming out to your family, what it\u2019s like coming out at a job, what it\u2019s like coming out to friends.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a job that hits home for Zuhlke, who is studying social work at 51ÁÔÆæ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI came out as trans about two years ago,\u201d Zuhlke said. \u201cThroughout growing up, and high school especially, it would have been nice to have someone I could go to. So often I was just isolating myself about it. I didn\u2019t want to talk about. I didn\u2019t think anyone would understand. The PRISM peer support specialists do get it. We are here and we will help you along this journey. Sit with you, listen to you, whatever you need, we\u2019re going to be there to support you through it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That kind of support has never been more critical, according to the Trevor Project\u2019s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n