2024 | Flash Funding | Meeting Rural Mental Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth and Families

FLASH FUNDED PROJECT | Whole Health Consortium

Meeting Rural Mental Health Needs of LGBTQ+ Youth and Families

TEAM:

• Kristen Benson, Human Development and Family Science
• Jody Russon, Human Development and Family Science
• Kate Liebesny, Carilion Clinic
• Laura Farmer, SAGA/ Diversity Camp, Inc.

This project aims to address the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in rural areas. These youth often face barriers to accessing traditional mental health services due to stigma, lack of affirmative services, and geographic isolation. The project brings together a team of scholars, community leaders, and healthcare providers to discuss the development of a Virginia Tech-Carilion LGBTQ+ youth and family specialty clinic. This clinic will focus on providing affirmative mental health services, supporting training for clinicians, and generating a referral network to better serve LGBTQ+ youth and their families in Southwest Virginia.

The need for such a clinic is underscored by the higher rates of mental health challenges among LGBTQ+ youth, including increased risks of suicide, substance use, and victimization. Many LGBTQ+ adolescents report feeling unwelcome in traditional behavioral health settings, leading to low treatment attendance and retention. The proposed specialty clinic will address these issues by providing a supportive environment for both youth and their families, offering training to develop clinical competencies for serving LGBTQ+ populations, and conducting research to improve mental health outcomes. By creating an integrated referral site and building capacity for future research, this project aims to fill a critical gap in mental health services for LGBTQ+ youth in rural regions.