The LGBTQ+ community represents a diverse range of identities and expressions of gender and sexual orientation. While belonging to the LGBTQI community can be a source of strength, it also brings unique challenges. This community is at a higher risk for experiencing mental health conditions — especially depression and anxiety disorders. LGBTQI adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition. Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals.

Fact: LGBTQ adults are more than twice as likely to have conditions like depression or anxiety 

LGBTQ+ and Mental Health, What to Know: Those in the LGBTQ+ community have a higher risk of developing a mental health condition. Researchers do not know exactly why, but it is widely credited to living in a homophobic, transphobic or anti-LGBTQ+ society.

The Pride Center of Maryland: The Pride Center of Maryland offers over 30 programs and services that reflect our dedication to ensuring Maryland’s sexual and gender minority community have equal access to care, services, and a space where they can be their authentic selves.

Centerlink: The community of national LGBTQ centers. A fundamental goal of CenterLink’s work is to strengthen, support, and connect LGBTQ community centers, and to help build the capacity of these centers to address the social, cultural, health, and political advocacy needs of LGBTQ community members across the country. 

The Trevor Project: You deserve a welcoming, loving world and so do the people you care about. Here you can reach out to a counselor if you’re struggling, find answers and information, and get the tools you need to help someone else. Trevor Project also provides a 24/7 support hotline.

American Medical Association Policies & Advocacy for LGBTQ Community: The AMA is helping to build a more just, more equitable, more diverse health care system for physicians and patients alike. They advocate at the state and federal levels for quality evidence-based health care regardless of gender or sexual orientation. 

LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity, Center of Excellence: This Center of Excellence, funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is designed to support the implementation of change strategies within mental health and substance use disorder treatment systems to address disparities impacting the LGBTQ+ community.

Why LGBTQI Cultural Competence Matters (VIDEO): Learn why LGBTQI cultural competence is important and how it supports mental health.

Instagram Page Worth Following:

1. @JuliaSchwabTherapy

Campus Resources:

Transgender and Non-Binary Resources: Provided by the Intercultural Leadership and Engagement Center, this webpage provides information on resources that may be of interest to transgender and non-binary students, faculty, and staff at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. 

UMB Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Resource Page: Resources exploring all areas of gender and sexual diversity.