June is Pride Month, a time to recognize and celebrate LGBTQ+ community members, their diverse cultures, their many accomplishments, and to acknowledge the systemic barriers and discrimination that persist. Recognizing that the social context in which one exists can be a critical component of one’s mental health, the Austen Riggs Center advocates for not only equal access to mental health care, but also for a treatment approach that meets each individual wherever they are and however they identify.
From Mental Health America:
Inequity harms mental health. While being LGBTQ+ is NOT a mental health condition or concern, LGBTQ+ individuals experience mental health struggles at higher rates than their straight and cisgender peers. Mental health challenges among the LGBTQ+ community are primarily due to individuals facing stigma, discrimination, and bias in many forms.
Below is a list of LGBTQ+ resources and articles from a variety of associations and organizations:
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)
American Psychological Association (APA)
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Mental Health America (MHA)
National Council for Mental Wellbeing
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
Additional Resources