Gender-Affirming Care
Only 36% of LGBTQ youth who have wanted mental health care have received it.
Only 36% of LGBTQ youth who have wanted mental health care have received it [source]. One cause for this is difficulty in finding an LGBTQ-competent provider. Some providers are not trained to support the unique issues and concerns LGBTQ youth may be facing. Youth are there to receive quality care. But instead, they have to educate their care providers about their identities and needs.
LGBTQ Youth Face Additional Hurdles
In some cases, mental health providers have to approve youth to access physical trans care and surgeries. They may also have to approve name, pronoun, and gender changes on official documents. This is despite the fact that sexual orientation and gender identity are not mental health disorders. Many providers may choose to withhold approval. These processes and avoidable hurdles can leave a young adult feeling defeated, misunderstood, and rejected. We need health providers to understand and support the needs of LGBTQ youth. They are in a position to help youth find self-acceptance and validation.
Learn more about this topic and ideas for taking action below. Small steps – including teaching others about why pronouns matter – can make a difference.
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Key Stats
- Nearly half of transgender and nonbinary youth don’t receive wanted mental health care due to concerns related to the LGBTQ competence of providers. [source]
Resources
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Explore Related Action Area
Continue your engagement by learning more about and taking action on related issues.
LGBTQ Health & Well-being
How discrimination, housing insecurity, and non-gender-affirming care impact mental health.
Anti-LGBTQ Policies and Laws
Even just within the past year, most LGBTQ youth have faced discrimination.
Banning Conversion Therapy
Conversion therapy is dangerous, discredited, and ineffective.
Housing Insecurity for LGBTQ Youth
40% of youth who experience homelessness identify as LGBTQ.
Gender-Affirming Care
Only 36% of LGBTQ youth who have wanted mental health care have received it.