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because of regret.

“Have you seen the suicide rates of those who actually went through the surgery and not just cowardly said they’re something they’re not,” Rhoads said. “The highest is in this category, [trans youth and adults] and that’s a shame.”

But studies suggest the vast majority of those who undergo gender-transition surgeries don’t experience regret and having access to genderaffirming care results in lower suicide rates.

Of 7,928 people who underwent gender transition surgeries, only 1% experienced regret, according to a 2021 study published in the International Open Access Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.

A 2022 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that teenagers who received either puberty blockers or genderaffirming hormones had 60% lower odds of depression and 73% lower odds of suicidal thoughts or self-harm.

Leslie Abla finds it hard to believe that the state legislators who proposed these laws did so because they care about transgender people.

“It’s hard to truly believe that,” she said. “Especially after talking to some of them, sharing our feelings and also actual research. Their response has been, ‘Well, we’ll just agree to disagree.’”

Moss Abla wants to see more non-LGBTQ+ people at rallies to advocate for his right to continue the care that gives him peace.

“It’s not enough to say it’s OK to be queer or trans,” he said. “You have to be actively fighting for them.

Abla said Republican legislators are “definitely targeting trans kids the most.

“You know, they come for us first and they come for everyone else later,” he said.

Abla agreed that some legislators should sit down with a transgender person and have a genuine conversation before writing bills such as the Millstone Act and SB 613.

“I hear so much misinformation,” he said. “It’s like, did you even look at the science? You don’t even have to talk to a trans person, at least just do research.

Through discussion, they may be able to see the person’s humanity apart from their gender identity, he said.

“Just care about people,” Abla said. “That’s really all there is to it. If you’re a kind person, then you’re sticking up for trans people.”

In addition to being Pride month for the LGBTQ+ community, June is also widely recognized as Men’s Mental Health Month.

Organizations such as Mental Health America take the month to spread awareness toward the realities of the hardships many men face and to encourage those who are struggling to seek help from loved ones and medical professionals.

Suicide remains one of the most prominent causes of death among college students across the globe. One in three college students “experience significant depression and anxiety,” according to an article published by the Mayo Clinic.

In the same article, it’s noted that up to 75% of students who struggle with these symptoms are reluctant to seek help.

Suicide is the 9th leading cause of death in Oklahoma, making the state rank 6th highest in deaths per capita in the U.S., according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

In early April of this year, a presentation by the AFSP called Talk Saves Lives, was intended to bring awareness to the reality of suicide and to inform the audience on suicide prevention.

Megan Baker, who is in the clinical Ph.D. program for psychology at OSU, is the former grief outreach intern at University Counseling Services and gave the presentation for Talk Saves Lives.

The presentation was held over zoom to an audience of only two people. Over the course of an hour, Baker went over details about the realities behind suicidal behavior in people and the most effective forms of prevention, according to the AFSP.

“One of the biggest challenges in fighting suicide is getting people to address their mental health the same way that [they] would [their] physical health,” Baker said.

At University Counseling Services, students have access to a free, walk-in clinic, where they can meet with a counselor without making an appointment.

OSU also offers access to the Reboot Center, which is a facility designated to give students a place to destress and unwind. However, the Reboot Center is currently closed during the summer.

When it comes to supporting someone who appears to be struggling, the presentation advised to “trust your gut,” and assume nobody else is reaching out to the person.

“As a rule of thumb, if you’re wondering if someone is having a hard time, that is a sign to reach out,” Baker said. While suicidal behavior is an important topic when discussing mental health, it is not the only one of significance. For men, especially those in college, substance abuse, depression and anxiety are also prevalent in deteriorating mental health.

Both the state of Oklahoma and OSU provide a number of free resources to seek when struggling with a mental health crisis.

The Oklahoma State Department of Wellness page includes details on accessing these resources, including the Student Counseling Center and Alcohol & Substance Abuse Center, among others.

The Wellness page encourages those who are in an immediate crisis to dial 911 or 988, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.