LGBTQ+ individuals of color encounter numerous obstacles in accessing mental health care services
A recent study published in Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice reveals a pressing need for culturally responsive and identity-affirming mental health care for LGBTQ+ people of color in the United States. The study, led by Sakura Ito and colleagues, analysed data from 23 qualitative studies involving LGBTQ+/POC adults in the U.S. and highlighted several key recommendations for mental health providers.
The research underscores the importance of cultural knowledge and sensitivity among mental health providers. By developing a deeper understanding of the cultural backgrounds and experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color, providers can ensure culturally responsive care. This includes being aware of the unique stressors related to multiple minority identities and the specific challenges they face, such as cultural stigma around mental health.
Another crucial aspect is implementing identity-affirming practices. Mental health providers should create a safe and inclusive environment that validates and affirms the identities of LGBTQ+ individuals of color, reducing feelings of alienation and mistrust.
Improving systemic accessibility is also vital. This involves increasing provider diversity, ensuring that services are affordable and accessible, and offering tailored programs that address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people of color.
Reducing provider bias is another recommendation. Mental health providers should engage in ongoing education and training to recognise and reduce biases that may lead to misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment. This includes understanding the impact of intersecting identities on mental health outcomes.
Lastly, implementing structural changes such as increasing the availability of culturally responsive therapists, improving cost affordability, and creating inclusive spaces within healthcare settings can enhance the quality of care provided to LGBTQ+ people of color.
The study also reported discrimination within the mental healthcare system itself, including microaggressions and harmful practices like misgendering or conversion therapy. Some clients felt forced to "split" their identities between different therapists or hide parts of themselves to avoid judgment.
Supportive social networks, especially friends, chosen family, and LGBTQ+ community organizations, play a key role in encouraging help-seeking for LGBTQ+ people of color. However, structural barriers, such as cultural stigma, high treatment costs, long wait times, and limited provider availability, remain major obstacles for LGBTQ+ people of color seeking mental healthcare.
The study argues that effective mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ people of color requires representation, cultural knowledge, and identity-affirming care. Training programs should be updated to include historically accurate discussions of how clinical psychology has pathologized marginalized identities and to recruit more diverse clinicians to meet community needs.
By implementing these recommendations, mental health providers can better address the unique needs of LGBTQ+ individuals of color, providing more effective and supportive care. The study, with its focus on amplifying underrepresented voices, such as older LGBTQ+ adults, Native American individuals, and asexual people of color, and examining how barriers to care operate within institutions and policies, paves the way for a more inclusive and equitable mental healthcare system.
[1] Ito, S., Jans, L. K., Rosenfeld, E. A., Shen, J., Vilkin, E., Gonzalez, A., & Vivian, D. (2025). Mental healthcare experiences and preferences among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer/people of color: A scoping review of qualitative research and recommendations for provider training. Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, 32(2), 105-121. https://doi.org/10.1037/cps0000241
- The research in Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice emphasizes the need for mental health providers to have cultural knowledge and sensitivity to ensure effective treatment for LGBTQ+ people of color.
- Implementing identity-affirming practices can help mental health providers create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ+ individuals of color.
- Improving systemic accessibility, such as increasing provider diversity, affordability, and accessibility, is essential for meeting the specific needs of LGBTQ+ people of color.
- Mental health providers must engage in ongoing education and training to recognize and reduce biases that may lead to misdiagnosis or inadequate treatment for LGBTQ+ people of color.
- Structural changes like increasing the availability of culturally responsive therapists, improving cost affordability, and creating inclusive spaces within healthcare settings can enhance the quality of care for LGBTQ+ people of color.
- Social networks, such as friends, chosen family, and LGBTQ+ community organizations, play a key role in encouraging help-seeking for LGBTQ+ people of color, but structural barriers like cultural stigma, high treatment costs, long wait times, and limited provider availability remain significant obstacles.
- Effective mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ people of color requires representation, cultural knowledge, and identity-affirming care, with updated training programs and hiring diverse clinicians to meet community needs.
