Supporting LGBTQIA2S+ Mental Health During Pride Month And Beyond
Social Acceptance, Gender-Affirming Care, and Tailored Mental Health Support Can Save the Lives of Queer People in the US
Pride Month each June marks the anniversary of the 1969 Stonewall riots.
The Stonewall riots were a series of fights between police and people who wanted equal rights for gay and transgender people. The fights happened outside a bar in New York City called the Stonewall Inn. The fights helped start a movement for LGTBQIA2S+ people all over the world.
LGBTQIA2S+ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, two-spirit and other identities.
While Pride Month is a time to celebrate LGBTQIA2S+ identity and community, it’s also a harsh reminder of ongoing discrimination, violence, and harmful laws that block access to health care.
This can cause damage to the physical health, emotional well-being, and the overall quality of life for LGBTQIA2S+ people. It can also lead to thoughts of suicide and increase the risk of attempted suicide.
Transgender and nonbinary youth are even more likely than cisgender LGBQ youth to experience symptoms of depression and anxiety, seriously consider suicide, and attempt suicide.
According to The Trevor Project’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, in the past year:
- 60% of LGBTQ youth couldn’t get the mental health care they wanted.
- 45% of LGBTQ youth ages 13 to 24 seriously considered attempting suicide.
- 14% of LGBTQ youth overall, and almost 20% of trans and nonbinary youth, made a suicide attempt.
Suicide rates are also high among LGBTQIA2S+ adults:
- A 2022 study found that lesbian, gay, or bisexual adults were 3 to 6 times more likely than heterosexual adults to have thoughts of suicide, have a suicide plan, or attempt suicide.
- In the most recent U.S. Transgender Survey, 40% of survey participants said they’d attempted suicide at least once. This is almost 9 times higher than for the overall U.S. population.
Suicide risk is a complex issue with many factors. For LGBTQIA2S+ teens and adults in particular, that may include:
- Stress related to having a marginalized identity
- Rejection from family and peers
- Lack of social support, affirming spaces, and community
- Physical harm and bullying
- Discrimination
- Conversion therapy
- Laws that remove protections for LGBTQIA2S+ people and block access to health care
- Lack of access to gender-affirming health care
But there are many ways to address these factors, support LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults, and lower suicide rates — both on a community level and on a bigger scale. Here are a few important things you can do:
Spread the word about the 988 Lifeline
The 988 Lifeline offers 24/7 support, 365 days a year, for any kind of emotional distress. You can call, text, or chat 988 if you or someone you know is experiencing:
- Thoughts of suicide
- A mental health crisis
- Substance use concerns
When you call 988 for yourself or a loved one, a trained crisis counselor will listen and offer support with feeling better in the moment. They can also connect you with resources for more help. Your call is free and confidential.
The 988 Lifeline is available live in both English and Spanish. Translation is possible for more than 250 languages.
Teens and young adults can call 988 and choose option 3 to reach The Trevor Project. This lifeline focuses on providing crisis support and crisis resources to LGBTQIA2S+ youth and young adults ages 13–24.
Among LGBTQIA2S+ youth, Native and Indigenous youth have the highest rates of attempted suicide (21%), according to The Trevor Project’s survey. But now, American Indian and Alaska Native people living in Washington can connect with the Native and Strong Lifeline by calling 988 and choosing option 4. Native counselors with close community ties answer these calls and provide crisis support with traditional and cultural healing.
Offer social support and acceptance
Feeling accepted and socially supported can benefit people of all ages. Social support is especially important for LGBTQIA2S+ youth.
LGBTQIA2S+ youth who felt high social support from family members attempted suicide at less than half the rate of youth who felt low or moderate social support.
What’s more, LGBTQIA2S+ youth with at least one accepting adult in their lives were 40% less likely to report attempting suicide in the previous year.
If you’re a parent, guardian, or caregiver who wants to learn more about supporting LGBTQIA2S+ youth, these resources can help:
- Helping Families Support Their Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Children
- Family Support: Resources for Families of Transgender & Gender Diverse Children
- The Family Acceptance Project
To get peer support, information, or resources for yourself, try connecting with:
Promote affirming spaces, activities, policies, and practices
Trans and nonbinary youth attempt suicide less when people use their correct pronouns and they can officially change the gender marker on legal documents like birth certificates, school IDs, and state-issued IDs.
Access to virtual and in-person spaces that affirm their gender identity can also make a big difference. Examples include:
- Online LGBTQIA2S+ community spaces, like Trevor Space and Q Chat Space
- Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) clubs and other school organizations
- The ability to use bathrooms and join sports teams that align with their gender identity
To learn more about local resources, visit:
The Washington State LGBTQ Commission has more information about policies that help make community spaces more affirming and welcoming for LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults.
Improve access to supportive and affirming health care
Cost and discrimination can make it more difficult for LGBTQIA2S+ people to access health care. Doctors, therapists, and other health care workers can cause lasting harm when they lack the training to provide sensitive care.
People who face this from their health care team may avoid seeking treatment for health and mental health symptoms — including thoughts of suicide.
Health care workers can make it easier for LGBTQIA2S+ people to get care by setting clear nondiscrimination policies and getting training in gender-affirming care.
Gender-affirming health care includes medical and mental health services that help support gender identity. Affirming care can improve mental health and shows promise for reducing suicide risk. Research links gender-affirming hormone therapy to lower rates of depression, thoughts of suicide, and suicide attempts among trans and nonbinary youth.
Resources for health care workers who want to learn more about providing affirming care:
- LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center
- Advancing Effective Communication, Cultural Competence, and Patient- and Family-Centered Care for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Community: A Field Guide
- Providing Affirmative Care for Patients with Non-binary Gender Identities
- Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents
- GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality
In Washington, your health insurance can’t deny or limit medically necessary gender-affirming care. If you’re enrolled in an Apple Health managed care plan, Apple Health’s Transhealth program covers gender-affirming health care.
A few tips for finding affirming and supportive health care professionals:
- Search for clinics that provide telehealth services in our provider network. Some clinics offer access to gender-affirming care by telehealth.
- Use your ZIP code to search the LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory.
- Search the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network directory.
- Search the OutCare Directory.
It’s true that LGBTQIA2S+ youth and adults report thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts at higher rates. But it’s equally true that support from family, friends, and trained professionals can prevent suicide — and for many people, the first step toward getting help starts with calling or texting 988.
More Information
Information in this blog changes rapidly. Sign up to be notified whenever we post new articles. For more information from the Washington State Department of Health, visit doh.wa.gov.
Questions about COVID-19? Visit our COVID-19 website to learn more about vaccines and booster doses, testing, and more. You can also contact the Department of Health call center at 1–800–525–0127 and press # from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday, and 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday — Sunday and observed state holidays. Language assistance is available.
