It's Pride Month! The Mental Health & Recovery Services Board of Allen, Auglaize, and Hardin Counties supports local LGBTQ+ community members' mental health journeys and has resources to help.
The LGBTQ+ community faces unique struggles as a marginalized community which affects their mental health. Our LGBTQ+ youth are particularly at risk. Keep reading for resources and professional help or visit wecarepeople.org/lgbtq.
LGBTQ+ Mental Health 2023
Our LGBTQ+ community members deserve to feel supported, safe, and mentally healthy lives. Unfortunately, LGBTQ+ individuals face discrimination, prejudice, denial of civil and human rights, harassment and family rejection, and social stigma. This can lead to new or worsened mental health conditions.
Identifying as LGBTQ+ is NOT a mental illness or disorder. It is just as mentally healthy to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transsexual, queer, questioning, nonbinary, or gender non-conforming as it is to be straight or cisgender.
Take pride in your mental health journey! Pride gives the LGBTQ+ community a space to connect and reduce isolation. Feeling connected in a community is linked with positive health. Celebrating who you are, who you love, and feeling connected to a community are linked with positive health.
The LGBTQ+ community needs everyone to be an ally. Allyship and support can reduce the issues that lead to mental health conditions. Learn more about how to be an ally.
The world could be extra hard right now. You might need extra support. There are some different steps you can take to find healing or help.
One of the quickest ways to check in on your mental health is with a free, anonymous mental health screening. Screenings are offered for depression, anxiety, PTSD, and more. You might be showing symptoms of a treatable mental health issue. A screening will let you know if you should connect with professional support. You can also take a screening on behalf of a loved one.
Take an anonymous screening at wecarepeople.org/screening.
It's okay to not be okay. We're here for you. If you or a loved one are struggling, call the 24/7 local Hopeline. Save the number in your phone so it's always there if you need it in the future.
24/7 HOPEline: 1-800-567-HOPE (4673)
Crisis Text Line: 741741
Looking for local mental health resources? Call 211 or visit allen211.org.
There are also mental health and other specific hotlines for the LGBTQ+ community. These helplines include:
National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call 988
The LGBT National Hotline: 1-888-843-4564
The True Colors United (for homeless youth): 1-212-461-4401
The Trevor Project Youth Line: 1-866-488-7386
The Trevor Project Youth Text Line: 678678
You and your loved ones deserve support. Local support groups are a way to get support within your community. One of our contracted agencies hosts some support groups, including for the LGBTQ+ community. Find all their support groups at passaah.org/support-groups.
Mozaic Support Group (LGBTQ Youth & Allies)
1st & 3rd Tuesdays
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
PASS
309 W. High Street, Suite A
Lima, Ohio 45801
Preventing LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide
LGBTQ+ youth deserve support, safe, and mentally healthy lives. But our LGBTQ+ youth are in crisis because of discrimination and lack of support.
LGBTQ+ youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide. 1 in 5 transgender youth attempted suicide in the last year. 56% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health did not get it. They need our support. Just one accepting adult reduces the risk of LGBTQ+ youth attempting suicide by 40%.
Acceptance helps save lives. Help LGBTQ+ youth in your life by accepting them. Share life-saving resources like local 24/7 Hopeline or (1-800-567-4673) The Trevor Project's Youth Line (1-866-488-7386).
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ young people under 25. They have resources for adults & youth and a 24/7 support line.
24/7 Youth Line: 1-866-488-7386
Text Line: 678678
John Hopkins has tips from pediatricians and adolescent medicine specialists for parents of LGBTQ+ youth. You can also find additional LGBTQ+ youth and adult resources on our LGBTQ+ Mental Health page. There are resources for supporting & being respectful of LGBTQ+ individuals, finding the right care, and more.
If you are in crisis call 1-800-567-HOPE (4673) or text 741 741.