Resources for the LGBTQ+ Community

Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Communities

While belonging to the LGBTQ+ community can be a source of strength, it also brings unique challenges. For those who identify as LGBTQ+, it’s important to recognize how your experience of sexual orientation and gender identity relates to your mental health.

Learn more through: NAMI

LGBTQ+ Communities and Mental HealthEveryone has a sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation is who you are romantically or physically attracted to. Gender identity is the internal sense of being male, female, both or neither, which is separate from your biological sex. People who have a different sexual orientation or gender identity from most people fall under the umbrella term LGBTQ+. It is really important to know that identifying as LGBTQ+ is NOT a mental illness or disorder.

Mental Health Resources in the LGBTQ+ CommunityLGBTQ people experience alarmingly high rates of mental health challenges. It disrupts their daily lives and can be life-threatening, especially for children and youth.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/QuestioningLGBTQ individuals are more than twice as likely as heterosexual men and women to have a mental health disorder in their lifetime. They are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse compared with heterosexual individuals.

Resources for LGBTQ+ Communities

The Trevor Project | For Young LGBTQ LivesThe Trevor Project provides 24/7 crisis support services to LGBTQ young people. Text, chat, or call anytime to reach a trained counselor. Free and confidential.

Transgender Law Center: Home - Transgender Law Center Transgender Law Center is the largest national transgender led organization that offers services to members of the transgender community seeking legal assistance with identity documents, immigration, health, employment, prisons, policing, public accommodation, and housing. TLC also caters to transgender youth, Black transgender individuals, those living with HIV, and/or have a disability.

Project Youth Affirm: https://www.projectyouthaffirm.org

Seeks to integrate identity affirmation with CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) interventions that are known to work. Affirm offers 8 session manualized interventions for LGBTQ+ youth and adults to learn stress coping skills and to meet other LGBTQ+ youth and adults in their area.

Accredited Schools Online: LGBTQ Student Resources & Support | Accredited Schools Online

A website that offers several links and other resources that cater to LGBTQ high school students/college students, LGBTQ Teens, local LGBTQ centers, and scholarships.

Services for LGBTQ+ Elders: SAGE – Advocacy & Services for LGBT Elders (sageusa.org)

SAGE is a national advocacy and services organization that represents and caters to LGBT elders through hotline services, community care, education, training, community care, housing, healthcare and much more.

24/7 SAGE Hotline: (877) 360-5428

Reading Recommendations

Link: Decolonizing Trans/Gender 101 by b. binaohan (goodreads.com)

Link: nîtisânak by Lindsay Nixon (goodreads.com)

Link: Feminist, Queer, Crip by Alison Kafer (goodreads.com)

Back to Resources