LGBTQ+ Mental
Health
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion for the LGBTQ+
p o p u l a t i o n are i m p o r t a n t due t o t h e h i s t o r y of exc l usi on.
H o m o s e x u a l i t y in t h e DSM- I I was re m o v e d in 1973
( Lo t h w e l l e t al. , 2 0 2 0 ) . Up t o 4 0 % of LGBTQ+
individuals experience discrimination in a
h e a l t h c a re setting, lea di ng to negative outcomes
( Nowaskie, 2 0 2 0 ) . The LGBTQ+ p o p u l a t i o n has an
i n c re a s e d r isk of m o o d d i s o rd e r s , attempted and
c o m p l e t e d s ui c i de s , s u b s t a n c e use
d i s o rd e r s , s i g n i fi c a n t delays in seeking he a l t h c a re ,
and
ex p e r i e n c e i n c re a s e d victimization, vi o l enc e, and
ha r a s s m e n t ( Nowaskie, 2 0 2 0 ; Lo t h w e l l e t al. , 2 0 2 0 ) .
CURRENT CHALLENGES
The LGBTQ+ c o m m u n i t y f a c e s v a r i ous cha l l enges in
a c c e ss i ng e q u i t a b l e m e n t a l he a l t h c a re and h e a l t hc a re .
Many challenges
c o m e f r o m i n s ur a n c e d i ffi c u l t i e s , suc h as be i ng una bl e t o
a ff o rd i nsurance, having a p r i m a r y c a re p ro v i d e r , or
p a y i n g for
p r e s c r i p t i o n s t h a t i n s u r a n c e won’ t c o v e r ( Ramsay e t al. ,
2022 ) .
Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t h e r e is fea r of di s c l o s ure , re f u s e d care, and
l i m i t e d p r o v i d e r t r a i n i n g on LGBTQ+ p r o b l e m s ( Ramsay
e t al. , 2 0 2 2 ) . There is a lack of d e m o g r a p h i c
i n f o r m a t i o n and
i n t e rn a l i z e d s t re s s leads t o a dv e rs e o u t c o m e s ( Nowaskie,
2 0 2 0 ; Ramsay e t al. , 2 0 2 2 ) .
Health
WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Diversity, equity, and inclusion for the LGBTQ+
p o p u l a t i o n are i m p o r t a n t due t o t h e h i s t o r y of exc l usi on.
H o m o s e x u a l i t y in t h e DSM- I I was re m o v e d in 1973
( Lo t h w e l l e t al. , 2 0 2 0 ) . Up t o 4 0 % of LGBTQ+
individuals experience discrimination in a
h e a l t h c a re setting, lea di ng to negative outcomes
( Nowaskie, 2 0 2 0 ) . The LGBTQ+ p o p u l a t i o n has an
i n c re a s e d r isk of m o o d d i s o rd e r s , attempted and
c o m p l e t e d s ui c i de s , s u b s t a n c e use
d i s o rd e r s , s i g n i fi c a n t delays in seeking he a l t h c a re ,
and
ex p e r i e n c e i n c re a s e d victimization, vi o l enc e, and
ha r a s s m e n t ( Nowaskie, 2 0 2 0 ; Lo t h w e l l e t al. , 2 0 2 0 ) .
CURRENT CHALLENGES
The LGBTQ+ c o m m u n i t y f a c e s v a r i ous cha l l enges in
a c c e ss i ng e q u i t a b l e m e n t a l he a l t h c a re and h e a l t hc a re .
Many challenges
c o m e f r o m i n s ur a n c e d i ffi c u l t i e s , suc h as be i ng una bl e t o
a ff o rd i nsurance, having a p r i m a r y c a re p ro v i d e r , or
p a y i n g for
p r e s c r i p t i o n s t h a t i n s u r a n c e won’ t c o v e r ( Ramsay e t al. ,
2022 ) .
Ad d i t i o n a l l y , t h e r e is fea r of di s c l o s ure , re f u s e d care, and
l i m i t e d p r o v i d e r t r a i n i n g on LGBTQ+ p r o b l e m s ( Ramsay
e t al. , 2 0 2 2 ) . There is a lack of d e m o g r a p h i c
i n f o r m a t i o n and
i n t e rn a l i z e d s t re s s leads t o a dv e rs e o u t c o m e s ( Nowaskie,
2 0 2 0 ; Ramsay e t al. , 2 0 2 2 ) .
