Pride month is a time for the LGBTQIA+ community and allies to come together in solidarity to celebrate and embrace identity. We want to remind our families and caregivers that your support and acceptance of your loved one’s sexual orientation, gender identity, and/or gender expression directly impacts their mental wellness and personal safety.
Unfortunately, LGBTQIA+ individuals often face discrimination making it difficult to access quality treatment for mood disorders. Many people learn that not all mental health providers understand their experiences. These negative interactions with providers can mean our loved ones are less likely to seek help when they need it most.
What can you do? Get familiar with these reputable mental health resources created for LGBTQIA+ people and share them with your loved ones.
Education and Local Support
National Crisis Resources
Crisis Text Line
Crisis Text Line connects texters with trained volunteer Crisis Counselors to help resolve times of crisis. This service tries to match texters with Crisis Counselors who have shared lived experiences.
- Text “LGBTQ” to 741741
- Hours: Available 24/7
- Cost: Standard messaging rates apply
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning young people under 25. www.thetrevorproject.org
TrevorLifeline
- Phone: 1-866-488-7386
- Hours: Available 24/7
- Cost: Free
TrevorText
- Text the word “START” to 678-678
- Hours: 24/7
- Cost: Standard messaging rates apply
TrevorChat
Online instant messaging with a TrevorChat counselor.
- Enter the online portal on The Trevor Project’s Website
- Hours: 24/7
- Cost: Free
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the well being of transgender people. The hotline is staffed by transgender people for transgender people. www.translifeline.org
- Phone: 1-877-565-8860
- Hours: 24/7
- Cost: Free
Other Resources
Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Equality Index
The Human Rights Campaign provides the national LGBTQ benchmarking tool, which evaluates healthcare facilities’ policies and practices related to LGBTQ patients, visitors, and employees. www.hrc.org
- Search the Healthcare Equality Index to see what local facilities have been evaluated in your area.
- Cost: Free
GLMA Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality
GLMA works to ensure equality in healthcare for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and healthcare providers. They offer a directory for patients to connect with LGBT welcoming providers. www.glma.org
- Provider Directory
- Hours: 24/7
- Cost: Free
It Gets Better Project
The It Gets Better Project is a nonprofit organization with a mission to uplift, empower, and connect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth around the globe. Their website offers education, stories, and a directory of local resources to help get the support your loved one needs.
- Get the Support You Need
- Hours: 24/7
- Cost: Free
