How to get LGBTQ-friendly mental health help

Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety disorders are common, and anyone can be impacted by them. But when you add the societal stigma, discrimination, and bullying LGBTQ individuals can face, it’s not surprising that studies find that they suffer from higher than average rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and suicide.

There’s no shame in not feeling your best emotionally — it’s okay to not feel okay. The most important thing is that you don’t resign yourself to feeling this way. Help is available. We’ve put together some advice and resources to help you give your emotional well-being the attention it deserves.

Mental health issues can have both emotional and physical symptoms. These may include:

• Trouble falling/staying asleep or sleeping too much
• Irritability
• Sadness
• Anxiety or panic
• Substance abuse
• Thoughts about self-harm or suicide
• Muscle tension
• Headaches
• Upset stomach
• Fatigue
• Palpitations (heart racing)

These symptoms can also be attributed to other medical conditions, so it’s important to talk to the right person to get help.

If you have a provider you feel comfortable with, that person is a great place to start for mental health help. At One Medical, all of our PCPs can identify and treat mental health conditions such as insomnia, fatigue, stress, anxiety, and depression. Depending on your preferences and the severity of your symptoms, your provider may recommend options like meditation, mindfulness apps, lifestyle changes, therapy, or medication. And if you need specialized care, they can guide you to the right resources so you’re not left feeling overwhelmed or anxious about where to go.

It’s important that you feel like you can talk to your provider about all aspects of your health — including your sexuality, gender identity, and mental health. We understand that many LGBTQ folks have had poor experiences with healthcare providers, and we hope to change that paradigm. As a practice, we’re committed to providing excellent care to diverse populations. Our goal is for every patient to feel respected, comfortable, and well cared for.

Don’t have a provider you can open up to? We can help you find one who understands you and your health needs. Our website lets you search for providers who are interested in LGBTQ care, mental health, or both. Just click “Interests” at the top of the page and you can select “Anxiety, Depression & Insomnia,” “LGBT Care,” and/or “Stress Management.” Keep in mind that all of our providers see LGBTQ patients, so you’re not limited to those who list this as an interest. If you’re still not quite sure who may be the right provider for you, give us a call. Our team can guide you to the right place.

Not able to join One Medical? GLMA and OutCare Health both have directories of an array of LGBTQ-friendly health professionals.

• Book a standard appointment to discuss your mental health concerns. I’ve personally had many patients bring up mental health concerns, such as sleep issues, stress, anxiety, or depression, at the end of an appointment that they made for other health concerns. This doesn’t leave us enough time to discuss what they’re experiencing and come up with a proper treatment plan. Mental health deserves just as much attention as physical health — it’s totally okay to book an appointment just to talk about mental health. In fact, we encourage it.
• Come prepared with notes about what you want to discuss. It’s easy to forget things during an appointment. Preparing a list in advance can help you keep your appointment focused and ensure you don’t forget any important details or questions. It also gives you extra time to think about — and notice — your feelings and symptoms.
• Don’t be afraid to talk about your true feelings and behavior. Whether you feel overwhelmed, you can’t sleep, you’ve been drinking too much or using drugs, or you’ve been suicidal, it’s important to be totally honest with your provider. We’re here to help you, not judge you. The more we know, the better we can do that.

Having a place to turn when you need it is essential — whether you’re feeling suicidal or just having a bad day and need to talk with someone who gets you. There are a number of organizations that provide mental health support, crisis counseling, resources, and other support for the LGBTQ community, including:

Gaylesta
This is a nonprofit psychotherapist association for gender and sexual diversity. They have a directory of mental health professionals and therapy groups focused on LGBTQ mental health.

It Gets Better
Watch inspiring stories from other LGBTQ people who have been through what you’re going through. They also have a directory of over 1100 organizations around the world that offer support to LGBTQ youth.

Trevor Project
Trevor Project offers a safe, non-judgmental place for LGBTQ youth to talk and get help in a crisis via telephone, instant messaging, and text. They also have a social networking site where LGBTQ youth can connect with each other in a safe space and a variety of resources and information on LGBTQ topics.

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Your mental well-being is critical to your happiness and health. If you’re not feeling well emotionally — even if it seems relatively minor — don’t suffer in silence. We’re here to help guide you through.