How LGBTQIA-Affirming Mental Health Care Can Save Young Adult Lives

LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and behaviors than their straight and cisgender peers. Studies show that many young people dealing with psychological distress and suicidal thoughts don't seek help. But those who do are much less likely to attempt suicide. This highlights how crucial it is to get LGBTQ+ youth to ask for support—it could save their lives.

The willingness to seek help is a major protective factor against developing or worsening mental health issues for all youth, especially LGBTQ+ youth. Being proactive about getting professional help for emotional or mental struggles makes it more likely they'll access mental health care down the road.

Barriers to Reaching Out

Getting help when they're struggling with mental health issues is super important for preventing suicide in young people. But there are a lot of roadblocks that make it tough.

Mental Health Stigma

The stigma around mental health is still very strong, and people are afraid of being judged. A lot of young people also just don't know that much about mental health, so they might not realize when they need help or what kind of help to get. It can be hard to put complex emotions into words, too. Our society tends to push this idea that you should just tough it out on your own.

Unique Challenges for Different Groups

It's worth noting that different groups of young people face different challenges when it comes to seeking help. Studies show that people of color, older teens, and girls are more likely to ask for help compared to white, younger, or male peers.

For LGBTQ+ youth, who are at a higher risk of suicide, the research is more limited. But they deal with extra obstacles like stigma related to their identity and a lack of care options that meet their specific needs. LGBTQ+ teens who don't trust school counselors are at higher risk of attempting suicide.

Biggest Hurdles for LGBTQ+ Youth

Many LGBTQ+ youth struggle to access mental health care for various reasons. The top reason, cited by 42% of them, is fear of opening up about their mental health concerns.

For white LGBTQ+ youth, the next biggest barrier is affordability (41%), while for LGBTQ+ youth of color, it's not wanting to get permission from parents or caregivers (41%). Cost was less of an issue for LGBTQ+ youth of color (38%) compared to their white peers, and parental permission was less of a hurdle for white LGBTQ+ youth (34%).

Looking Toward More Effective and Accessible Care

Stigma around mental illness and seeking help remains a major obstacle for LGBTQ+ youth. The top barrier cited was fear of discussing mental health concerns. Reducing this stigma is key to improving outcomes and increasing the likelihood of seeking help.

Public awareness campaigns, especially in schools and communities, can shift perceptions and promote help-seeking. Gatekeeper training and accessible mental health education have shown promise.

For many LGBTQ+ youth of color, reluctance to seek parental permission was also a barrier. Equipping parents/caregivers with knowledge and skills to discuss mental health openly could facilitate access and well-being.

Nearly half of trans boys/men cited fear of someone calling police or involuntary hospitalization as a reason for not getting care. This heightened concern may reflect societal stigma against trans identities, including in healthcare settings. Despite this barrier, trans youth were most likely to access care, perhaps due to the medicalization of gender dysphoria increasing healthcare interactions.

Support Is Available

Ultimately, encouraging help-seeking among LGBTQ+ young people will only be an effective strategy if sufficient and appropriate services exist to prevent, diagnose, and treat their mental health concerns. The expansion of telehealth services and LGBTQ therapy has significantly increased access to mental health care, particularly for populations disproportionately affected by suicide, including LGBTQ+ young people. Book a consultation today to learn more.

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