Skip to main content

Youth LGBTQ-Specific Mental Health Services Lacking

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Lori Solomon HealthDay Reporter

WEDNESDAY, June 7, 2023 -- Just over one in four youth-serving U.S. mental health facilities offered lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (LGBTQ)-specific mental health services in 2020, according to a research letter published online June 5 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Kristen R. Choi, Ph.D., R.N., from the University of California in Los Angeles, and colleagues evaluated the statewide availability of LGBTQ mental health services among youth-serving U.S. mental health facilities in 2020 and time variation in services from 2014 to 2020. The analysis included data from 12,275 facilities participating in the National Mental Health Services Survey.

The researchers found that 28 percent of facilities offered LGBTQ-specific services in 2020, an increase from 25 percent in 2014. Coastal states had higher service availability, which was lower in rural states. Fewer than 10 child-serving facilities with LGBTQ services per 100,000 were found in all states. Higher odds of offering LGBTQ-specific services were seen with for-profit facility status (odds ratio, 1.55) versus nonprofit facilities. Public facility status was associated with lower odds of services (odds ratio, 0.78), while facility accreditation was associated with higher odds of offering LGBTQ-specific services (odds ratio, 1.45).

"Findings suggest a need to expand availability of LGBTQ services for youth in underserved geographic areas and in public mental health care," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Read this next

Teens May Experience Delays in Bipolar Progression After Major Depressive Disorder

FRIDAY, May 31, 2024 -- Adolescents may experience delayed bipolar disorder (BD) progression after major depressive disorder (MDD) diagnosis, according to a study published online...

Teen Smartphone Use Positively Tied to Mood

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- Adolescent smartphone use is positively associated with mood, according to a study published online May 29 in PLOS ONE. Matt Minich, Ph.D., and...

Some Healthy Teens Are Given Cannabidiol for Health Reasons

THURSDAY, May 30, 2024 -- About 3 percent of healthy adolescents are given commercial cannabidiol (CBD) for health reasons, according to a study published online May 7 in Cannabis...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.