Mental Healthcare for the LGBTQ+ Community
According to research published by the American Sociological Association, acceptance of queer people has reached an all-time high in the U.S. This is welcome news to any member of this community or their allies, but there is still much progress to be made. Studies show that many queer people still face discrimination when trying to access healthcare, including mental healthcare. In fact, the American Psychiatric Association listed homosexuality as a mental illness until 1973. There are many reasons why it can be difficult for LQBTQ+ people to find affirming mental healthcare in Nashville.
Learn more about the mental health struggles that may affect the queer community as well as the resources that are available to help. Accessing LGBTQ+ mental healthcare can help you overcome your struggles and live your best life.
Mental Health Issues Affecting LGBTQ+ People
LGBTQ+ people can struggle with mental health problems just like anybody else. Evidence from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration suggests, though, that they may actually suffer from these issues at a greater rate than the rest of the population. The following afflictions are especially common problems facing the queer community.
Depression
Approximately two to six percent of people throughout the world will experience a major depressive episode at some point. Unfortunately, many of those people are queer. The correlation between depression and queer identity has been weaponized against LGBTQ+ people, with some fallaciously arguing that a cause-and-effect relationship exists. Of course, being queer doesn’t cause depression, but discrimination and inequality can certainly be contributing factors.
Symptoms of depression typically appear in LGBTQ+ people the same as they would in other people. These symptoms include:
- Unrelenting feelings of despair
- Loss of interest in usual activities
- Sudden mood swings
- Fluctuations in weight
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should consider connecting with a psychiatric provider in Nashville, TN. Treatment options such as therapy, medication, or a combination of both can help you overcome the struggles that depression causes. Some medications that can help include the following:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Noradrenaline and specific serotonergic antidepressants (NASSAs)
- Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs)
- Serotonin antagonists and reuptake inhibitors (SARIs)
Working with a mental healthcare provider in Nashville will help you find the medication that’s most effective in your fight against depression.
Anxiety
LGBTQ+ people may also be uniquely vulnerable to anxiety in Nashville. Indeed, research confirms that people in the queer community are dramatically more likely to experience anxiety than those who are not. Much like the aforementioned increased instances of depression, this higher rate of anxiety may be related to the social and political challenges that the LGBTQ+ community often faces. Symptoms of anxiety may include the following:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Uncontrollable feelings of worry
- Feeling tired and fatigued
- Muscle aches, headaches, and pain
Some medications that are often prescribed to help anxiety include:
- Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)
- Serotonin-noradrenaline reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)
- Benzodiazepines
Symptoms of anxiety and depression often overlap, and treatment for these ailments may overlap, too. SSRIs and SNRIs, for example, are considered first-time treatment options for both of these issues. LGBTQ+ people should seek out mental healthcare to find the right solution.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is yet another common mental health problem in Nashville. PTSD is an illness that occurs when a person survives a severely traumatic event. Abuse, violence, and assault are just a few of the experiences that may lead to PTSD — and according to statistics, LGBTQ+ people are at a heightened risk of sustaining incidents like these. Some of the symptoms associated with PTSD include the following:
- Being frightened very easily
- Feeling like you are constantly in “fight or flight” mode
- Difficulty sleeping and concentrating
- Overwhelming emotions such as guilt and shame
These symptoms can be debilitating if they are left unaddressed. Your symptoms may even worsen if you seek treatment and encounter a practitioner who is not affirming. Unfortunately, though, this is often a possibility. You can recover from PTSD with help from an LGBTQ+ friendly provider in Nashville.
Barriers Preventing LGBTQ+ Mental Healthcare Access
Why is it so difficult for members of the queer community to find adequate mental healthcare? Accessing treatment shouldn’t be a struggle, yet for so many people, it is. There are many potential explanations for this, including the following barriers that often prevent queer people from receiving care.
Ignorance and Lack of Education
It is tragic yet true that some mental health providers harbor outdated attitudes toward their LGBTQ+ clients. Some of these attitudes stem from conscious prejudice, while others may simply be perpetuating ignorance. In either case, though, the result is the same — queer people seeking support for their mental health may instead be dismissed or disrespected.
This is an unacceptable outcome, but it’s one that many queer people have endured. You can overcome this obstacle by seeking out a provider who offers affirming service. The Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists, for example, offers referrals to psychiatric providers who are both queer and queer-affirming. You can also search online for LGBTQ+ friendly mental health providers in Nashville.
Financial Obstacles
Finances are another common obstacle for queer people seeking mental healthcare, and this is also true of the rest of the population. According to research, people in the U.S. spend a cumulative $225 billion on mental healthcare every year. Intake appointments, follow-up sessions, and the cost of medication can all impose a financial burden on people seeking care.
This problem is even more likely to affect LGBTQ+ people, who are about 6% more likely to experience poverty. Working with a provider who offers clear and affordable pricing can help you budget for mental healthcare and understand its costs. This can also spare you from the surprise of a bill from your insurer if any services you receive are not covered.
What Makes a Mental Health Care Provider in Nashville Affirming?
You understand the importance of connecting with an affirming mental healthcare provider, but you might wonder what constitutes an affirmative provider. Being “affirming” is not an official credential but rather a commitment to respecting the humanity and identity of queer individuals. Consider what other traits you should look for when you seek to affirm mental healthcare in Nashville.
Accepting Attitude
The most important trait for any mental health provider is their ability to maintain an accepting attitude. Everybody is entitled to dignity and respect, and practitioners must provide care that acknowledges their clients’ lived experiences. This is especially true for marginalized groups such as the LGBTQ+ community.
A mental healthcare provider who is committed to offering affirming care will always make an effort to understand their clients. More importantly, they will account for the role that institutional injustice may play in their mental health. Acceptance is not just a lack of judgment — it’s the validation of your identity and your experiences.
Familiarity With LGBTQ+ Issues
An affirming mental healthcare provider must also be well-versed in the issues that commonly face LGBTQ+ clients. This means staying up-to-date on events that affect trans people, for example, or investing in continuing education that covers theories of queer mental health. Even if a practitioner is well-intentioned, they may be unable to offer adequate care if they are ignorant of these issues.
This is why it’s important to look for a mental health practitioner in Nashville who is specifically committed to serving LGBTQ+ clients. If it’s unclear whether or not a provider is affirming, scheduling an appointment can be a gamble. You can eliminate the stress and guesswork of finding the right mental health provider when you connect with an affirming psychiatric practitioner in Nashville.
Professional Competence
Finally, you must look for a provider who is professionally competent. This means they will possess expert knowledge of psychiatric care and extensive experience serving mental health clients. A family nurse practitioner (FNP) or a psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner (PMHNP) can meet these criteria and provide you with the care you need.
When you’re assessing the qualifications of a provider, consider the training and credentials that they offer. You should also consider the prior experience that a provider brings to the table. Many mental healthcare professionals have prior experience that qualifies them to serve LGBTQ+ clients more effectively.
Find Affirming Mental Healthcare for LGBTQ+ People in Nashville
Whether you’re gay, transgender, nonbinary, or represent another part of the queer community, you deserve the freedom that comes from maintaining your mental health. If you deal with a mental illness such as anxiety or depression, though, these struggles could be holding you back. Finding the right mental health care provider is the best way to meet these challenges head-on and reclaim your peace of mind.
Rose Behavioral Health is proud to serve LGBTQ+ clients and provide individualized treatment for every client. We can help you combat the mental health issues that affect your life the most. Book an appointment to start your journey toward mental health in Nashville, Knoxville, Clarksville, Memphis, and throughout the rest of Tennessee.
