Mental Health
NOTE: these research summaries were initially developed by LGBTQ+ representatives from RAND, SPEC, and A.B.O. Comix based on their personal reactions to the themes depicted in the selected artwork. Individual artists may or may not agree that these summaries are the best representation of the themes in their work. We have solicited artists’ reactions to the themes and will update these summary pages over time based on their input.
LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of mental health and substance use problems, linked to our experiences of stigma and discrimination. This includes diagnosable disorders; more general experiences like loneliness and social isolation; and outcomes like suicide and overdose. LGBTQ+ mental health is further impacted by use of policing and incarceration systems to address our mental health and substance use problems (often causing additional trauma); the lack of LGBTQ-affirming, culturally competent mental health services available to us; and pathologizing of our identities through practices such as harmful state policies targeting health care for trans and non-binary individuals.
Artists in Theme
Michael Eaton, Jorge Gonzalez, Krysta Marie Morningstarr*Cox, Metro, Maxwell Moore, Joanna Nixon, Kit Brixton, Horace Thomas, David Tighe, Gabriella “Coco” Wyatt
References
Beck, J., Reuland, M., & Pope, L. (2020). Behavioral health crisis alternatives: Shifting from police to community responses. Vera Institute of Justice. https://www.vera.org/behavioral-health-crisis-alternatives
Lehmann, K. (2018). Communities at risk: Substance use disorders in LGBTQ populations. In W. Swan (editor), The Routledge Handbook of LGBTQIA Administration and Policy. https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781351258807-13/communities-risk-kate-lehmann
Mental Health America (2019). LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Insights from MHA screening. https://www.mhanational.org/lgbtq-mental-health-insights-mha-screening
Rees, S. N., Crowe, M., & Harris, S. (2020). The lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities’ mental health care needs and experiences of mental health services: An integrative review of qualitative studies. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing. https://doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12720
Turban, J. L., Kraschel, K. L., & Cohen, I. G. (2021). Legislation to criminalize gender-affirming medical care for transgender youth. JAMA. http://jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jama.2021.7764
