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Surviving the Holidays

10 mental health resources for LGBTQ+ folks

Latonya Pennington

Things aren’t super great in the world right now in the world now. On top of having to get on with our daily lives, LGBTQ+ folks have to deal with an ongoing pandemic, anti-transgender legislation like KOSA, and job layoffs across various industries. The stress from all of this can take a toll on your mental health, which is why it’s important to have access to resources for when you need help.

From therapy to peer support, here are ten mental health resources for LGBTQ+ folks in need of extra support this Thanksgiving.

  1. Open Path Collective

Open Path Collective is a nonprofit organization that provides a directory to therapists that offer online and in-person sessions ranging between $40-70. You can use the directory for free to find a therapist with a certain ethnicity and specialities such as gender or sexual exploration and LGBTQ+ sexualities. Once you find your therapist, you must sign up for Open Path Collective’s membership and pay a one time fee of $65 in order to get your membership ID and make a therapy appointment.

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On a personal note, this non-profit is the reason I’ve finally been able to get therapy. Even though I can’t afford to go as often as I would like, doing one session a month has helped me manage my mental health better. 

  1. The National Queer Trans Therapist of Color Network

This is an non-profit organization and online directory whose goal is to “advance healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans Black, Indigenous, People of Color.” Its main benefit is its search directory that connects queer and trans people of color to QTPOC therapists nationwide. There is also a membership tier for those who want to become part of organization as a community member and enhance their knowledge of healing justice.

  1. The Loveland Foundation

Aimed at providing financial assistance to Black women and girls seeking therapy, this therapy fund was established by Rachel Cargle in 2018. Applications for the therapy fund open up on a quarterly basis and prospective applications can add their email to be notified when it opens up again. When you sign up, expect to wait 4 to 6 weeks for a follow up to see if you’re eligible for the fund.

  1. LGBTQ Lifeline Center

For thirty years, this organization has provided support to the PLWH and LGBTQ+ communities in Hampton Roads. Services offered include mental health and counseling, health and testing, transgender and gender nonconforming support, and housing and utility assistance just to name a few. To see if you qualify for any of these services, you have to click the link for each one and then either call or email the center. 

  1. Fireweed Collective

Fireweed Collective provides mental health education and mutual aid through a healing justice lens. The organization has workshops led by neurodivergent folks, webinars that create virtual spaces for marginalized groups to connect, and a crisis toolkit consisting of strategies to navigate mental health crises. Webinars are offered at sliding scale rates (based on what you can afford to pay), workshops must be registered for, and some parts of the crisis toolkit are accessible for free.

  1. LGBTQ National Hotline

This service consists of a series of hotlines that include the LGBTQ National Hotline, the LGBTQ National Coming Out Support Hotline, the LGBTQ National Youth Hotline, and the LGBTQ Senior Hotline. They also provide confidential online support through a peer support chat and weekly youth chatrooms. All the volunteers for the online support and hotlines are a part of the LGBTQ+ community. Hours of operation are Mon-Fri from 1 PM – 9 PM/pacific time, 4 PM – Midnight/eastern time, and Saturday from 9 AM – 2 PM/pacific time and Noon – 5 PM/eastern time.

  1. Sage Hotline

An advocacy and services organization for LGBTQ+ elders, Sage has been active since 1978. They tackle specific needs and issues that they face, from caregiving to social isolation to healthcare. In addition, they have also partnered with the LGBTQ mental wellness app HearMe to provide LGBTQ elders a way to get immediate, confidential support if they need an LGBTQ+, culturally competent, allied listener to talk to via text.

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