JUAN ACOSTA: Advancing Queer Mental Health

What challenges are LGBTQ+ youth facing today—and how can we be part of the solution? LGBTQ+ youth continue to face significant mental health struggles, often rooted in the environments around them rather than their identities. In this episode of The Queerest Podcast, host Andraé BVR is joined by Juan Acosta, an award-winning mental health advocate and author, who began his work in activism at just 13 years old. As a first-generation Mexican American and LGBTQ+ leader, Juan shares his journey from community-level organizing to national platforms like the Born This Way Foundation, NAMI, and Mental Health America. Together, they explore the intersection of identity, advocacy, and mental health, especially in the face of current legislative and social challenges.