LGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week: Hidden Health Impacts of the LGBTQIA+ Population

From March 17 to March 21, we join the national observance of LGBTQIA+ Health Awareness Week – an important opportunity to spotlight the health disparities facing the LGBTQIA+ community. This year’s theme, “Health Equity NOW!” calls us to take immediate action toward improving healthcare access and outcomes for LGBTQIA+ individuals.

As Northwest Washington’s behavioral healthcare leader, we are committed to equitable healthcare for all. In honor of this week, we want to shed light on the health challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community and highlight the efforts of our organization and others working to make change.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) adults and youth experience significant health disparities compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. These disparities stem from ongoing discrimination, social marginalization, and systemic barriers to care.

A shortage of access and affirmation. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), LGBTQIA+ older adults face challenges accessing quality healthcare, including limited availability of LGBTQIA+-affirming care, a lack of adequate resources, and insufficient social support. Cognitive health issues such as Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias are also becoming increasingly prominent health concerns within the community. Furthermore, LGBTQ+ adults are more likely to suffer from mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and personality disorder diagnoses, with an alarming 81% prevalence among gender-diverse adults.  

Youth are especially at risk. There are concerning trends emerging among LGBTQIA+ youth. LGBTQIA+ youth are at a higher risk for substance use disorders, sexually transmitted diseases, cancers, obesity, bullying, anxiety, and depression. Additionally, LGBTQIA+ youth are two to three times more likely to attempt suicide and face higher rates of homelessness compared to their peers.  

We know that these health disparities exist, and we must all commit to taking action to address them, working together to ensure that the physical and mental health needs of the LGBTQIA+ community are met.

Fortunately, there are many organizations and advocates dedicated to this important mission.

The Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) recently launched the Healthy People 2030 initiative, which includes key objectives aimed at improving the health equity for the LGBTQIA+ community, such as:

• Reducing bullying of LGBTQIA+ high school students
• Increasing access to cervical cancer screenings
• Reducing suicidal thoughts among youth

As a behavioral healthcare provider, we’re committed to advancing these goals, along with others related to improving health outcomes for the LGBTQIA+ community. From our outpatient, intensive and crisis youth services to our adult outpatient, intensive and crisis services, our team is always working to meet the unique needs of the LGBTQIA+ community, offering affirming, culturally competent care to every client. We are dedicated to creating a safe and supportive environment where all individuals feel valued and empowered to prioritize their mental health.

Other local organizations that are making a difference include:

• Cocoon House: Provides housing and other community services to homeless and at-risk youth ages 13 through 17 and their families in Snohomish County.
• GLSEN Washington Chapter: Focused on creating safe schools for all LGBTQIA+ people.
• PFLAG (Chapters across Washington, including Snohomish County, Whatcom County and Skagit County): Created to build support for the LGBTQIA+ community and their families, friends, and allies by building bridges between the queer community and the straight community.
• San Juan Island Pride Foundation: Exists to foster community across LGBTQIA+ and intersecting identities and to bring much-needed resources to the remote, rural community.
• Bellingham Queer Collective (18+):
• Whatcom Youth Pride: Formed in late 2018/early 2019, volunteers including school staff, educators, parents, and community members came together with a shared goal of finding ways to celebrate and show support to LGBTQIA+ youth in Whatcom County.

On the national level:

• The Trevor Project, the country’s leading voice on LGBTQIA+ youth suicide prevention, offering a free 24-hour crisis line and other resources for LGBTQIA+ youth.
• Advocates for Trans Equality, a non-profit social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, collaboration, and empowerment.
• The National LGBT Cancer Network, an organization addressing health disparities and fostering a more equitable and inclusive landscape for LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly in the context of cancer care.
• The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA), the oldest and largest association of LGBTQIA+ and allied health professionals working to ensure health equity for LGTBQIA+ and all sexual and gender minority individuals.

Together, we can work to ensure that everyone, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, has the opportunity to live a healthy, fulfilling life.