Mental Health Resources for LGBTQ+ Individuals​
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Resource Connection and Advocacy.
LGBTQ+ individuals often face significant barriers in accessing mental health care, including discrimination, internalized homophobia or transphobia, and a lack of culturally competent providers. These challenges are compounded by social isolation, economic disparities, and intersecting forms of marginalization, which can lead to higher rates of mental health issues like depression and anxiety. Addressing these barriers through inclusive and affirming care is essential to improving mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ communities. Fortunately, a variety of dedicated organizations and resources are working to address these issues and ensure that LGBTQ+ people receive the support and advocacy they need. This page offers a curated selection of resources designed to enhance mental health and well-being for LGBTQ+ individuals, their families, and allies, strengthening resilience and promoting inclusivity across diverse communities.
988 Suicide Prevention LGBTQI+ Resources: Offers Suicide Intervention information and resources for those seeking support within the LGBTQI+ communities.
AMAZE's Youth-Targeted Initiatives provide LGBTQ+ age-appropriate inclusive sex education that can assist parents and educators in initiating a respectful and informative conversation about sexual orientation and gender identity.
American Academy of Pediatrics' LGBTQ Health and Wellness resources:The AAP's LGBTQ Health and Wellness page provides comprehensive resources and guidelines to support the health and well-being of LGBTQ individuals across various age groups.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention: AFSP is dedicated to preventing suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) people. As a public health organization, AFSP believes that it is our individual and collective responsibility to support the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ people.
The Annie E. Casey Foundation – Guide to Self-Advocacy for LGBQ+ Youth: Helps LGBTQ+ youth navigate challenges like juvenile probation, find meaningful employment, succeed in school and practice self-care, self-discovery and self-advocacy.
Asian Pride Project – Families go through a coming out process, too : Stories of lesbian, gay, transgender and queer triumphs and struggles in our Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities through the eyes of parents, elders and family.
Atlanta Black Pride: Dedicated to celebrating and advocating for the LGBTQ+ Black community in Atlanta. They offer information on events, resources, and initiatives that support the intersectional needs of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, including educational and social programs.
Atlanta Pride- The Atlanta Pride Committee is Georgia's oldest non-profit agency serving the LGBTQ community and serves as an advocate of, and resource to, gender and sexually diverse communities in Atlanta and the Southeastern United States.
Building an Equitable Future by Centering Young Voices: This article from the Standford Social Innovation Review gives examples from Columbia to show you to include LGBTQ+ communities in decision-making.
CDC – Adolescent and School Health - This brief provides key learning objectives that schools and school districts can incorporate in their PD offerings to help teachers and other school staff build core competencies for supporting LGBTQ+ youth in schools.
CDC – Dating Matters Toolkit: Guides to Healthy, Safe Relationships for LGBTQ+ Youth and their Parents and Caregivers
Child Mind Institute: Resources in Honor of Pride Month : Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need. They have become a leader in children’s mental health by providing gold-standard evidence-based care, delivering educational resources to millions of families each year, training educators in underserved communities, and developing tomorrow’s breakthrough treatments.
Child Trends: Child Trends works to ensure that our research accurately reflects the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth (LGBTQ+)—including those who are asexual, pansexual, Two-spirit, nonbinary, and intersex.
CHRIS 180! Since the 1980s, CHRIS 180 has been at the forefront, advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and championing mental health within this community. You can explore their LGBTQ+ history on their website.
DEQH: an accessible confidential helpline for Desi and South Asian individuals identifying as LGBTQ+ who are looking for resources, support, or simply a place to connect and express themselves.
Desi Rainbow Parents & Allies: an organization helping South Asian families and friends of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning individuals to learn about LGBTQ+ issues, find community with one another and learn how to better support their loved ones.
First City Pride Center : First City Pride Center is an inclusive advocacy, social, and service organization actively working to meet the needs for safety, empowerment, education, and wellbeing of Greater Savannah’s LGBTQIA+ community.
Family Acceptance Project The Family Acceptance Project (FAP) at San Francisco State University is a research-based initiative focused on supporting LGBTQ youth by promoting family acceptance to reduce risks like suicide, homelessness, and substance abuse. FAP develops evidence-based interventions and resources to help diverse families provide better support for their LGBTQ children, improving long-term well-being.
GCAPP - The Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential - GCAPP provides a Supporting LGBTQ+ Teens and Young Adults two-part training series. This webinar includes everything parents/caregivers need to know about supporting LGBTQ+ youth through a discussion with a panel of experts.
Georgia Equality LGBTQ+ Resources includes numerous legal and personal supports for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Georgia Recovers – Creating LGBTQ+ Affirming Spaces in Addiction Recovery: This webinar leads participants in exploring how to create inclusive and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ individuals seeking recovery, and strategies for providing holistic, affirming care that addresses their unique needs.
Give Us The Floor (GUTF) is a San Francisco-based non-profit organization that provides LGBTQ+ youth in distress with the peer-positive human connection that they are too often missing. They provide inclusive, innovative and unique online peer Supportive Group Chats that provide constant contact and anonymity in a safe youth-only community, breaking the isolation and shame cycles they are experiencing.
GLAAD : Founded in 1985, GLAAD is a non-profit organization focused on LGBTQ advocacy and cultural change. GLAAD works to ensure fair, accurate, and inclusive representation and creates national and local programs that advance LGBTQ acceptance.
LGBTQIA+ Community United in Prevention | GUIDE, Inc.
The LGBTQIA+ Community United in Prevention (CUP) engages young adults (18-25) in the LGBTQIA+ community to address alcohol-related health disparities. Supported by Georgia’s DBHDD, CUP members attend monthly virtual meetings and an in-person retreat to plan alcohol risk reduction and substance use prevention strategies. Participants receive compensation for their involvement and aim to foster positive change in their local communities.
KFF – LGBT Adults’ Experiences with Discrimination and Health Care Disparities: KFF is an independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. This article utilizes findings from the KFF survey of racism, discrimination, and health.
Lost-n-Found Youth is another wonderful organization connecting LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness in Georgia with safe and supportive housing.
Mental Health America’s LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resource Center : Mental Health America advances the mental health and well-being of all people living in the U.S. through public education, research, advocacy and public policy, and direct service.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA): A federation of LGBT Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander organizations. It helps local groups by providing education, leadership development, collaboration, and visibility to help challenge racism and anti-LGBTQ bias. It also provides a directory of Asian and Pacific Islander healers and therapists.
PFLAG NYC offers materials for parents and families of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) children and anyone who wants to understand LGBTQ+ issues better.
SAMHSA – Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth: This report provides behavioral health professionals, researchers, policymakers and other audiences with a comprehensive research overview and accurate information about effective and ineffective therapeutic practices related to youth of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center - Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth Resource Guide for Professionals, Families, and Communities:The Suicide Prevention Resource Center partnered with NORC at the University of Chicago to develop one resource guide and four population-focused Focus Guides for those who live and work with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) youth.
The Trevor Project - Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Young People : The Trevor Project is the leading suicide prevention and crisis intervention nonprofit organization for LGBTQ+ young people. We provide information & support to LGBTQ+ young people 24/7, all year round.
US Dept. Of Veterans Affairs – LGBTQ+ Veteran Health Care Patient Education - These Veteran education brochures communicate important information to LGBTQ+ Veterans about their unique health risks and relevant services offered by VA.