LGBTQ Teens Often Struggle to Find Mental Health Care Tailored to Them
October 20, 2023
There is a critical shortage of mental health care tailored for LGBTQ youth. According to a recent study, less than one in three mental health facilities in the U.S. offers specialized services for LGBTQ children and teens. Such services include support for coming out and counseling on sexual orientation and gender-affirming therapy. To help meet their unique needs, LGBTQ youth should have access to mental health care that is tailored for them, say experts. However, the number of facilities that provide such care has only risen a small amount, increasing from 25% in 2014 to 28% in 2020. Rep. Ritchie Torres of New York, who has been working with other members of Congress to address the issue, said, “Asking for help is a sign of strength, but we need to make sure that we have the proper resources in place for those who need help.”
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