June is Pride Month – a time when people and organizations come together to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+* community. Although there has been great progress in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, many in the LGBTQ+ community still face both personal and systemic discrimination.
During Pride Month, Rural Minds strives to increase awareness of the mental health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ individuals, especially those who live in rural America. Accessing mental healthcare is often a challenge for many who live in rural communities throughout the US, but that challenge is multiplied for rural LGBTQ+ people. In addition to such issues as social and geographic isolation, shortages of healthcare professionals and transportation barriers experienced by all rural Americans seeking mental healthcare, LGBTQ+ people also risk encountering stigma and discrimination.
In this blog, we raise awareness of mental health challenges rural LGBTQ+ people face by sharing both national and rural statistics, as well as provide resources for additional information and support.