Beyond Pride Month: Supporting LGBTQ+ Mental Health All Year Long

Beyond Pride Month: Supporting LGBTQQ+ Mental Health All Year Long

Written by Ashleigh Howard

While June was Pride month, it is important to remember that LGBTQQ+ challenges exist all year round, especially when it comes to mental health.

The LGBTQQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, and more) community includes a wide spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations. Beyond these aspects, individuals within the community often represent a variety of races, religions, ethnic backgrounds, nationalities, and socioeconomic statuses. This intersectionality (the way different aspects of a person’s identity overlap) contributes to a unique diversity of perspectives and experiences. Recognizing this is key to understanding the mental health challenges individuals in the community face. 

While the full range of LGBTQQ+ identities is not commonly included in large-scale studies of mental health, there is strong evidence from research that suggests these individuals are at a higher risk for experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, substance use disorders, and suicide.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness:

•  LGBTQQ+ adults are twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition.

• Transgender individuals are four times as likely as cisgender individuals (those whose gender identity aligns with their birth sex) to experience a mental health condition. 

• LGBTQQ+ teens report persistent feelings of sadness at twice the rate of their heterosexual peers, and many struggle with suicidal thoughts or attempts, especially in unsupportive environments.

• It is estimated that LGBTQQ+ youth and young adults have a 120% higher risk of experiencing homelessness, which can lead to a variety of mental health concerns and related challenges.

Why These Disparities Exist

Factors like family rejection, bullying, discrimination, trauma, and lack of inclusive health care can deeply impact one's mental wellness. For example, over 80% of LGBTQQ+ youth report being harassed at school, and many face rejection at home. These experiences can increase the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance use, and long-term mental health issues. In addition, constant exposure to environments that invalidate or ignore their identities can lead to chronic stress, internalized stigma, and a sense of isolation. All of these factors can contribute to emotional distress and make it harder to access or trust support systems. 

Barriers to Care

For LGBTQQ+ individuals, one major hurdle in accessing affirming mental health care is that they may encounter providers who lack understanding or hold biased views. Some may avoid care out of fear of judgment or discrimination. However, finding a provider who is affirming and supportive can make a huge difference for individuals in their mental health journey. 

Local LGBTQQ+ centers, advocacy organizations, and inclusive mental health directories are great resources for finding affirming providers. Building a supportive therapeutic relationship is not always easy, but it is a vital step towards healing and self-acceptance. 

Whether you identify as LGBTQQ+ or an ally, it’s essential to remember that mental health care should be inclusive, informed, and compassionate. Supporting LGBTQQ+ mental health isn’t just about addressing risk; it’s about creating pride and resilience. 

Resources for LGBTQQ+ individuals:

• The Trevor Project provides several mental health resources for LGBTQQ+ individuals

  • Trevorlifeline: 1-886-488-7386

• The LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory Helps find LGBTQ+ friendly healthcare near you

• The LGBTQ+ National Help Center Helps youth and adults with coming-out issues, safer-sex information, school bullying, family concerns, relationship problems, and more

References

Healthy Life Recovery. (n.d.). Mental health and addiction issues in the LGBTQ+ community.  https://healthyliferecovery.com/mental-health-addiction-in-lgbtq/

Montero, A., Hamel, L., Artiga, S., & Dawson, L. (2024). LGBT adults’ experiences with discrimination and health care disparities. KFF. https://www.kff.org/racial-equity-and-health-policy/poll-finding/lgbt-adults-experiences-with-discrimination-and-health-care-disparities-findings-from-the-kff-survey-of-racism-discrimination-and-health/

Narkewicz. E. L. (2022). Providing culturally competent mental health care to LGBTQIA+ youth & young adults. UMass Chan Medical School, Department of Psychiatry, Implementation Science and Practice Advances Research Center (iSPARC). https://www.umassmed.edu/TransitionsACR/resources/culturally-competent-mhc-to-LGBTQIA/ 

National Alliance on Mental Illness. (n.d.). LGBTQ+. In your journey: Identity and cultural dimensions. https://www.nami.org/your-journey/identity-and-cultural-dimensions/lgbtq/

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2016). National survey on drug use and health: Sexual orientation and estimates of adult substance use and mental health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-SexualOrientation-2015/NSDUH-SexualOrientation-2015/NSDUH-SexualOrientation-2015.htm

Wanta, J. W., Niforatos, J. D., Durbak, E., Viguera, A., & Altinay, M. (2019). Mental health diagnoses among transgender patients in the clinical setting: An all‑payer electronic health record study. Transgender Health, 4(1), 313–315. https://doi.org/10.1089/trgh.2019.0029