LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

Community resources, education, and events

Folks in the LGBTQIA+ community come from a diverse range of backgrounds, identities, and experiences. The intersectionality of these perspectives contributes to a resilient community that serves as a critical source of strength, pride, and belonging for many teens and adults.

At the same time, many within this community face unique challenges – particularly when it comes to mental health and wellness. These challenges, which are often rooted in socio-economic and cultural discrimination, have an even greater impact on individuals from historically minoritized racial and socioeconomic identities.

Understanding these risk factors and key considerations for LGBTQIA+ individuals is vital to achieving true health equity for all in our community.

What does LGBTQIA+ mean?

LGBTQIA+ is an acronym to describe the community of people who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, or Asexual. This umbrella term is commonly used to identify any kind of diverse sexuality or gender. Two-spirit is another way people self-identify. (Check out this glossary of terms to learn more.)

Gender identity and sexual orientation is a spectrum. For this reason, creating a single term that encompasses such a vastly diverse and multi-faceted community inevitably leaves some individuals feeling excluded. When in doubt, use the terms, names, and pronouns that people use to describe themselves.

LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Statistics

Long-term health and wellness requires whole-person care and support. A wide range of health and social factors can impact a person’s quality of life and risks – including where they are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age. These factors are called the Social Determinants of Health.

The statistics below demonstrate how the Social Determinants of Health impact the LGBTQIA+ community:

Economic Stability

More than 1 in 5 LGBTQ+ adults (22%) and 3 in 10 transgender adults (29%) are living in poverty, compared to an estimated 16% of their straight and cisgender counterparts. (Source)

Education Access and Quality

Almost one-third of all LGTBQ students drop out of high school, compared with a national average of about 8 percent, primarily because of bullying and harassment from other students. (Source)

Health Care Access and Quality

Eight percent of all LGBTQ people—and 22 percent of trans individuals—avoided or postponed needed medical care because of disrespect or discrimination from health care staff. (Source)

Neighborhood and Built Environment

LGBT people are nearly 4 times more likely than non-LGBT people to experience violent victimization, including rape, sexual assault, and aggravated or simple assault. (Source)

Social and Community Context

LGBTQ youth who felt high social support from their family reported attempting suicide at less than half the rate of those who felt low or moderate social support. (Source)

Local PRIDE 2023 Events in Boulder & Broomfield Counties

In Colorado, June is recognized as LGBTQIA+ Pride Month. Pride Month commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, and celebrates this community’s fight for equal rights. All are invited to take part in these Pride Month celebrations in towns and cities across Boulder and Broomfield counties.