Email UpdatesDuring June, members of the LGBTQ+ community celebrate Pride Month. Pride also presents healthcare providers an opportunity to reflect on how they can uphold health equity in their medical practices, especially for their LGBTQ+ patients.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community face significant health disparities and have an elevated risk of experiencing behavioral health struggles. There are also many barriers that LGBTQ+ individuals endure when it comes to accessing healthcare. Behavioral health integration can play a part in reducing these disparities. It is incumbent upon behavioral health providers to remain conscious of best practices when treating LGBTQ+ patients.
Explore the following resources to learn more about caring for the LGBTQ+ community:
- Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights
- Pride and Mental Health
- The Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity
- LGBTQ+ Training Curricula for Behavioral Health and Primary Care Practitioners
- LGBTQ+ Glossary of Terms for Health Care Teams
- Medicaid Opportunities to Better Support LGBTQ+ Health
- NEW! (June 2024) Guidance to States and Communities on Using Federal Funding To Support Mental Health Services for LGBTQI+ Youth
For more information and resources on treating LGBTQ+ patients in integrated care settings, refer to the Academy’s news story, “Health Equity for LGBTQ Patients in Integrated Care Settings – Promotion Resources”. See also the Academy resource related to LGBTQ+ Populations and Substance Use. Additional Academy resources on health disparities and stigma can be found in the Literature Collection and the Substance Use Tools & Resources Collection. Also see the Academy Topic Brief on Health Equity.
To access the LGBTQ+ helpline for immediate crisis support, call 1 (866) 488-7386 or text “START” to 678-678.