LGBTQI Community
NAMI Identity & Cultural Dimensions LGBTQI page provides an overview of the relationship between LGBTQI identities, intersectionality, and mental health, along with recommendations for connecting with treatment and support.
NAMI Knowledge Article: Are there any mental health resources specifically for the LGBTQI community? The LGBTQI community faces unique mental health challenges and barriers to care. Many resources are available to help LGBTQI-identifying people find treatment and support.
NAMI Knowledge Article: How can I find an LGBTQI-affirming mental health provider? Many people find it easier to open up with people who “get” their experiences. While all mental health providers are trained in empathy, having a provider who is part of your community, or who has experience working with people from your community, can make a difference.
NAMI Video - Bullying, Bullets and Trauma: Surviving with Pride listen as Quintin Lamarr shares his story of growing up at the confluence of systemic racism and anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination in America. He describes how the traumas of racial injustice and discrimination walk hand in hand with mental illness, and how mental health services and communities like NAMI open up new
worlds of recognition, hope, healing and pride.
NAMI Video - LGBTQI+ Mental Health Experience coming out can be a scary, difficult thing. The questions of whether support will be available and how to find it can be even more overwhelming. In this video, three LGBTQI+ identifying presenters discuss their own journeys coming out and how they were able to get support for their mental health while prioritizing their identities.
NAMI Video - LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Inhabiting The Space That Wasn’t Built For You. Rosemary Ketchum, the first-ever politically elected trans woman in the state of West Virginia and leader at NAMI Greater Wheeling, addresses the need for LGBTQ+ people to have a place in the room advocating for social change and a stigma-free world.
NAMI Video - Ros and Jonny: Community Creates Hope friendship and community help so many who struggle with mental illness find strength and hope. Ros and Jonny met in college and have been there for each other ever since. Sharing a passion for mental health advocacy, they have joined forces with NAMI to help their Hispanic/Latinx and LGBTQ+ peers discover the NAMI community and ignite the light of hope in their own lives.
NAMI Video - The Vixen & Anthony Cicchino: Being Your Authentic Self the Vixen and NAMI ambassador Anthony Cicchino discuss mental health in the LGBTQI+ community, coming out, and how to be an ally.
NAMI Video - Why LGBTQI Cultural Competence Matters learn why LGBTQI cultural competence is important and how it supports mental health.
AGLP, The Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists has a database of LGBTQ-friendly psychiatrists near you that are members of the association.
Asian American Psychological Association (AAPA) provides a directory which connects Asians and Asian-Americans to culturally aware providers. Also provides fact sheets about suicide, bullying, first generation college students, International Students’ adjustment challenges, partner violence, trauma and violence exposure, substance use, and brain injury. You can also find a bullying awareness campaign, and Asian American/Pacific Islander LBGTQI resources.
Inclusive Therapists provides a directory or directly matches people with therapists or coaches who will offer care specifically for your unique identity. The goal is to ensure people with marginalized identities get equitable access to radically affirming, culturally responsive mental health care. Inclusive Therapists centers the needs of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and 2SLGBTQIA+ intersections (QTBIPOC).
It Gets Better provides suggestions for coping skills with the goal of communicating to LGBTQI youth around the world that it gets better. They also offer a Get Helps page to find LGBTQI youth support services in local communities.
Jed Foundation - Understanding Discrimination and Bias there is a strong link between one’s identity, and mental health and well-being. Experiencing racial discrimination and injustice can have a negative impact on your mental health. It can even trigger depression, anxiety and stress. Learn more about racial trauma, barriers to mental healthcare and tips on how to cope.
LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory is a free, searchable database of all kinds of doctors, medical professionals and healthcare providers, including mental health professionals, who are knowledgeable and sensitive to the unique health needs of LGBTQ+ people in the USA and Canada.
Trans Lifeline is a crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for transgendered individuals (hotline is run by transgendered individuals). They also provide help for individuals wanting to change legal name on passport, license, ID and more. Calls are accepted at (877) 565-8860 Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. ET. Spanish-language hotline also available.
Trevor Project provides free, confidential and secure crisis intervention and suicide prevention services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) young people who may be struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ identity, depression, and suicide. The Trevor Project can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866)-488-7386 or text STARTs to
678-678 or chat at thetrevorproject.org.
Trevor Project - Creating Safer Spaces in Schools for LGBTQ Youth for LGBTQ young people, school can be a tricky place to explore who they are and how they identify, especially if they face harassment, discrimination, or a lack of resources. Here you will find frequently asked questions that LGBTQ youth ask about their experiences in school.
Trevor Project - How to Support Bisexual Youth: Ways to Care for Bisexual, Pansexual, Fluid, and Queer Youth Who are Attracted to More than One Gender this is an introductory educational resource that covers a wide range of topics and best practices for supporting bisexual young people in your life, which may include yourself. Educating ourselves is an ongoing practice, and how we define and express identity is an ongoing journey.
Trevor Project - International LGBTQ Youth it’s a sad reality that parts of the world are hostile to sexual and gender minorities. Because of this, coming out or seeking help through certain avenues can be very dangerous. Here you will find frequently asked questions that LGBTQ youth ask about their experiences with living in hostile areas of the world.
Trevor Project - The Coming Out Handbook coming out isn’t always easy. It’s when a person decides to reveal an important part of their identity to someone in their life. For many LGBTQ people, this involves sharing their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. Explore what coming out means to you with tools and guiding questions.
Trevor Project - TrevorSpace offers an affirming, online community for LGBTQ young people between the ages of 13-24 years old. With members from around the world, you can explore your identity, get advice, find support, and make friends in a moderated community intentionally designed for you.