Gay or bisexual men and women experience both mental illness and substance abuse at higher rates than the sexual majority. There may be many reasons for this, but our focus is on where LGBTQ people can find help for the sometimes unique issues that this demographic faces.
People who identify along the LGBTQ spectrum are at an increased risk for mental health issues and substance use disorder. The reasons for this are unclear, but there is a solution if someone is struggling with either of these issues independently or in conjunction with one another. Here, we hope to provide helpful resources that can help educate, inform, and advocate the fact that recovery is possible, no matter your problem.
In addition to substance abuse rates, there is also a significantly higher occurrence of mental health issues in the LGBTQ community. This, too, has many contributing factors, not the least of which is the unfortunate social stigma and prejudice that many sexual majorities display towards a non-standard sexual identity. This can lead to bullying, discrimination, violence, and a sense that someone is an outsider. This can increase stress, anxiety, and depression while also worsening any pre-existing mental health issues.
To illustrate, let’s take a look at one study which examined the increased rates of mental illness among LGBTQ people compared to their heterosexual counterparts, separated by sexual identity:
The occurrence of a serious mental illness is also increased in the LGBTQ population as opposed to the sexual majority. A serious mental illness is defined as a psychological disorder that substantially interferes with one or more major life activities. This may have environmental as well as neurological roots, as LGBTQ people often face significant hardship at the hands of people who do not accept their gender/sexual identity. This could include the aforementioned depression and anxiety, but also PTSD if there was significant trauma in their life.
As far as treatment of co-occurring conditions is concerned, SAMHSA states:
“Integrated, concurrent treatment that addresses both conditions simultaneously has generated strong empirical support, appears to be preferable to clients, and is increasingly considered the current standard of care, particularly when combining psychosocial and pharmacologic approaches.”
Excerpt from the Treatment Improvement Protocol 42 (2020 Update), Page 87
In short, if someone is struggling with co-occurring conditions, their best chances for long-term recovery depend upon them receiving treatment and care for both conditions simultaneously. An integrated and parallel approach to treating co-occurring disorders has been shown to result in a greater chance of long-term recovery, and more positive long-term outcomes.
Aside from helplines, there are many online LGBTQ-specific resources for finding help when someone is struggling with a mental health issue, substance abuse, or co-occurring issues. Some of these can include:
Browse the top-rated rehab centers for drug and alcohol addiction by state.
We’ve listed the best drug rehabs in each state according to accreditations, online reviews and treatment programs offered.
LiveAnotherDay.org’s helpline is a private and convenient solution for individuals seeking treatment for addiction or mental illness.
Calls to our helpline (all non-facility specific 1-8XX numbers) will be answered by Recovery Advisors, American Addiction Centers, or one of our verified local treatment partners. Calls are routed based on geographic location.
Our helpline is offered at no cost to you and with no obligation to enter into treatment. In some cases, Live Another Day charges our verified partner a modest cost per call, which helps us cover the costs of building and maintaining our website. We do not receive any commission or fee that is dependent upon which treatment provider a visitor ultimately selects.
For more information on Live Another Day’s helpline, as well as our selection process, mission statement, and staff, visit our About page.
If our helpline is unable to assist you, we recommend browsing our state-by-state listings of the Best-Rated Rehab Centers, reading our resource guides, or visiting SAMHSA.gov.