SAMHSA LGBTQI+ Resources & Guidance for Using Funds to Support LGBTQI+ Youth Mental Health

The Substance Abuse and Mental health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recently published guidance to states and communities on using federal funding to support mental health services for LGBTQI+ youth. LGBTQI+ youth face a nationwide mental health crisis, and almost half of LGBTQI+ kids say they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. This guidance outlines how states and communities can use SAMHSA funding to support mental health services for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex (LGBTQI+), and other gender diverse youth with examples from BSCA grantees.

The guidance includes key examples of work that has been funded through SAMHSA that has emphasized supports for LGBTQI+ youth; and highlights that 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers specialized services for LGBTQI+ youth and young adults who want to connect with a counselor. To speak with someone specifically focused on meeting these needs, call 988 and select option 3, text “pride” to 988, or access the service via chat.

In recognition of June as Pride Month, SAMHSA also released a selection of products at the Evidence-Based Practices Resource Center (EBPRC) tailored specifically to the needs of the LGBTQI+ and other underserved communities, including:

• Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth: This report provides behavioral health professionals, researchers, policymakers and other audiences with a comprehensive research overview and accurate information about effective and ineffective therapeutic practices related to youth of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity.
• Adapting Evidence-Based Practices for Under-Resourced Populations: This guide focuses on research supporting adaptations of evidence-based practices (EBPs) for under-resourced populations. Adaptations involve tailoring care, programs, and services to the cultural, social, gender, and demographic contexts of the people served to yield positive outcomes.

SAMHSA additional resources:

• A Practitioner's Resource Guide: Helping Families to Support Their LGBT Children
• A Provider's Introduction to Substance Abuse Treatment for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, & Transgender (LGBT) Individuals
• Center of Excellence on LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health Equity (CoE LGBTQ+ BHE), which provides behavioral health practitioners with vital information on supporting the population of people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, two-spirit, and other diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions (LGBTQ+).

To learn more about SAMHSA’s efforts to support LGBTQI+ pride and enhance the well-being of all individuals within the community, please visit SAMHSA’s LGBTQI+ webpage.

For additional resources that focus on prevention, treatment and recovery of substance use disorders and mental illness, please visit the EBPRC website.