As part of our Pride Month celebration, we continue to bring awareness to the barriers that LGBTQ+ people experience, especially around mental health and behavioral health treatment. Young people from the community are often more heavily affected by financial and housing barriers which result in little access to other necessities like mental health care.
Some of the most recent data we have regarding LGBTQ+ youth mental health is from the 2023 Trevor Project U.S. National Survey in which 28,000 young LGBTQ+ young people from the ages of 13-24 across the United States answered questions about their experiences. Here are just a few of the results from this survey:
- 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. This number is higher in transgender, nonbinary, and/or people of color.
- 56% of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care in the past year were not able to access it.
- Nearly 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ young people said their mental health was poor most of the time or always due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation.
Though New York State has legal protections, LGBTQ+ people in our state can also feel the effects of an unprecedented amount of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has been introduced nationwide in 2023 alone. The ACLU has tracked a total of 491 bills introduced into state legislation this year, many of which propose to limit LGBTQ+ access to healthcare, reduce civil rights, take away rights to correct information on legal documentation, and reduce LGBTQ+ related education.
How can I support the LGBTQ+ people in my life?
LGBTQ+ people may find themselves emotionally overwhelmed by the many attacks on LGBTQ+ rights throughout the United States as well as other personal concerns. Checking in with your loved ones about their feelings and thoughts can open a line of communication and support that may be invaluable to them. Remember to listen to them and avoid talking over their concerns. If your loved one is unable to access consistent mental health care at this time, other hotlines for LGBTQ+ people might be useful until they can secure access.
If you or a loved one is seeking support, Horizon is here to help. Call our team today at 716-831-1800 to schedule an appointment with our trained professionals.
Learn more about our commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging here.