"Jayden is a 16-year-old Black queer teenager living in a low-income neighborhood on Atlanta's west side. When he was unable to attend school because of his worsening panic attacks, he finally asked for help, but his cries went unanswered. The mental health system in this country wasn't made for queer kids of color, which is why even when they go out to search for mental health care, too many are met with doors closed or closed minds."
"It is built from interviews, national survey data, and the experiences of BIPOC LGBTQ+ youth in low-income communities who tried, but failed, to access mental health care. of LGBTQ+ youth who said they wanted mental health care in the past year have been unable to get access to such resources and treatment. The result is an escalating crisis in which the young people who most stand to benefit from treatment for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts are the least likely to get it."
Queer youth of color in low-income communities face compounded barriers to mental health care rooted in racism, poverty, and anti-LGBTQ+ bias. Many who seek help encounter closed doors, unsafe or judgmental providers, risks of being outed, and treatments that aim to "fix" identity rather than provide support. Large shares of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted care could not access it, producing an escalating crisis. Transgender and nonbinary youth report particularly high rates of anxiety and suicidal ideation, nearly double those of cisgender peers. The youth most in need of treatment are often the least likely to receive it.
Read at Advocate.com
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