Double Stigma
Depression Treatment
Mental Health Resources
Better LGBTQ+ Mental HealthDouble Stigma: Depression in the LGBTQ+ Community
People who can identify as LGBTQ+ often experience a double stigma in which they feel are not accepted.
- within the mental health community due to their LGBTQ+ identities
- within the LGBTQ+ community due to mental health issues including depression
Potential Impacts of Double Stigma
Some LGBTQ+ individuals may feel they need to hide their sexual orientation from mental health providers. The effects of double stigma can be harmful, particularly if a member of this community experiences this kind of discrimination when they seek treatment — which we know is critical to mental health.
2.5x
LBGTQ individuals more likely to experience depression compared to heterosexual individuals
31%
Approximate amount of LGBTQ older adults report depressive symptoms
39%
of LGBTQ+ youth report serious thoughts of taking their own lives
Depression Treatment
It’s important for anyone struggling with depression to seek treatment, especially in the LGBTQ+ community.
Practitioners trained to look for and address the first signs of mental health issues in LGBTQ youth can help mitigate the damaging effects of severe depression.1
Clinicians are essential in addressing mental health issues specific to gender and sexual orientation. The GeneSight test can help your doctor make informed medication treatment decisions by using your DNA.
Learn more about how the GeneSight Psychotropic test can inform your doctor about genes that may impact how you metabolize or respond to certain medications.
1. https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/lgbt/reports/2010/12/09/8787/how-to-improve-mental-health-care-for-lgbt-youth/
How to Help Yourself or an LGBTQ+ Loved One
The Trevor Project is a multimedia support network for LGBTQ youth providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention.
The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is a comprehensive resource for more than 23 million people in the U.S. who live with mood disorders, providing education, tools, peer support and a wealth of inspiring stories.
Mental Health America works locally and nationally to raise awareness about mental health and ensures that those at-risk for mental illnesses and related disorders receive proper, timely and effective treatment. MHA offers unique educational materials created specifically for the LGBTQ audience.
Committed to Better LGBTQ+ Mental Health
We are committed to the LGBTQ+ community and their mental health needs. Please visit this page often to see new content for both patients and healthcare providers.
LEARN MORE
We are proud to invite you to ‘LGBTQ+ and Depression- Addressing the Double Stigma’, a GeneSight Cares Virtual Event, June 24th at 7PM EST and June 25th at 9PM EST.
This one-hour panel discussion is designed to help clinicians get a clearer picture of LGBTQ+ mental health issues, and to offer them tools that may guide their future treatment of members of this community. We have enlisted an impressive panel of experts with diverse personal and professional backgrounds who specialize in caring for LGBTQ+ community.
A GeneSight team member explains why it is critical that we talk about mental health, and how the GeneSight team is committed to working towards solutions, greater understanding and respect.
The mental health issues faced by our LGBTQ+ friends and family will likely increase as a result of our shared national health emergency. We’re shining a light on one area that needs attention.
Pride Month is an important time to talk about depression and its impact on the community.
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Pride Memories
