LGBTQ+

LGBTQ+ people often experience higher rates of mental health problems than other community members. If you identify as LGBTQ+, LinqCare Inc. offers expert treatments for problems like depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. If you have these or any other issues, the highly skilled team provides empathetic care and support to help you overcome them. Call LinqCare Inc. to learn more about LGBTQ+ mental health care, or book a telehealth appointment online today.  

Why do LGBTQ+ people need mental health support?

LGBTQ+ or LGBTQIA+ describes anyone who doesn’t identify as solely heterosexual. It encompasses people who are homosexual (lesbian/gay), bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and all the other ways people identify their gender or sexuality. 

Despite increasing awareness and acceptance in many cultures, LGBTQ+ people still face discrimination and are often misunderstood by large parts of society in the United States and elsewhere. They may suffer rejection from family and friends when coming out as LGBTQ+ and experience homophobic or transphobic abuse that can be violent.

These problems and the pressure to conform or change your identity often make life a continual struggle for LGBTQ+ people. Understandably, rates of mental health problems in the LGBTQ+ population are significantly higher.

What mental health problems affect LGBTQ+ people?

LGBTQ+ people experience the same mental health issues as heterosexual people, including bipolar disorder, depression, and personality disorders. However, several conditions are especially common in LGBTQ+ people:

Depression

Depression makes life seem bleak and joyless. It’s a struggle to get through the day, and you lose interest in your usual activities. Depression is so unbearable it can lead to self-harm, thoughts of death, and suicide unless you get expert help.

Anxiety

Anxiety is very common in LGBTQ+ people. The constant stress of dealing with other people’s expectations and prejudices and your own internal struggles can be exhausting.

Substance use disorder

To overcome mental health problems, many people self-medicate with alcohol or drugs. While these substances seem to provide some relief at first, continued use leads to worsening mental health and addiction.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

PTSD can develop after an assault or other severely distressing experience. You could also develop complex PTSD if you suffer long-term abuse.

What kind of support is available for LGBTQ+ people?

LinqCare Inc. offers expert counseling and medication prescriptions where necessary.

Counseling is vital to help people work through their problems and challenges. It can take several forms, including individual psychotherapy, where your provider helps you address current and previous problems affecting your mental health. Another approach, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), provides you with practical ways to make each day easier.

LinqCare Inc. delivers these services via telehealth. That means you can access support wherever you are, even if you are away or too sick to leave home. These services also include family therapy to assist LGBTQ+ people who want to come out to their families in a safe environment.

To find out more about LinqCare Inc.’s support for LGBTQ+ people, call the office or book an appointment online today.