If you are a member of the LGBTQ+ community and you are struggling with a mental illness, suicidal thoughts, stigma, discrimination, or something else entirely, contact Family & Children’s Services at 918-587-9471.
Family & Children’s Services has experience working with LGBTQ+ clients and excel in understanding, empathizing with, and assisting these individuals with managing or resolving these issues.
It’s important for anyone struggling with depression to seek mental health treatment, especially in the LGBTQ+ community. These individuals face unique challenges that threaten their mental health and overall livelihood. Here are some facts and statistics compiled by Psychiatry.org related to the LGBTQ+ population and their experience with mental illness.
Prevalence of Mental Illness in the LGBTQ+ Community
- LGBTQ individuals are more than twice as likely as heterosexuals to have a mental illness.
- Those in the LGBTQ community are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance abuse compared to heterosexuals.
- 31% of older adults in the LGBTQ community report depressive symptoms and 39% report serious thoughts of suicide.
- Women who identify as lesbian or bisexual are more than twice as likely to engage in heavy drinking in the past month than heterosexual women.
Risk and Rate of Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Individuals
- In LGBTQ people ages 10-24, suicide is a leading cause of death.
- African American, Hispanic, American Indian, or Multiracial/Mixed transgender individuals have a higher risk of suicide than white transgender individuals.
- The rate of suicide attempts for lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth is four times higher, and two times higher for youth questioning their sexual identity than heterosexual youth.
