Coming out is liberation. It can also be loss. Both are real.
Affirming crisis support, queer- and trans-led therapy directories, and stories from the people who lived through it.
41%
of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year.
Source: Trevor Project National Survey, 2023
84%
of LGBTQ+ young people want mental health care — and half who want it can't get it.
Source: Trevor Project National Survey, 2024
40%
of trans people have attempted suicide in their lifetime, vs. ~2% of the general population.
Source: U.S. Transgender Survey, 2022
What we know about LGBTQ+ mental health
Queer and trans folks face higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidality than the general population — not because of who we are, but because of how the world has treated us. The 'gender minority stress' model has decades of research behind it.
Family rejection, conversion therapy, religious harm, and the daily weight of being misgendered are real injuries. Coming out doesn't erase them — sometimes it brings new ones, including grief for the family or community you lost.
An LGBTQ+-affirming therapist isn't just one who 'tolerates' you. It's one who treats your identity as a starting point, not a problem to solve. The directories below filter for exactly that.
Crisis support for our community
Free, confidential lines, several of them run by and for this community. If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Trevor Project
1-866-488-7386Crisis support for LGBTQ+ young people under 25. Call, text START to 678678, or chat online.
Trans Lifeline
1-877-565-8860Peer support hotline run by and for trans people. Confidential, no non-consensual active rescue.
Stories from our community
Illustrative recovery stories that reflect common experiences in the lgbtq+ community. Names and details are not those of real people.
Therapist directories & community resources
Vetted national directories where you can find a therapist or support program rooted in lgbtq+ community context.
Pride Counseling
Online therapy platform specializing in the LGBTQ+ community.
Inclusive Therapists
Therapist directory with deep filters for LGBTQ+, BIPOC, neurodivergence, and disability.
GLMA Provider Directory
Directory of healthcare professionals who serve LGBTQ+ patients with cultural competence.
PFLAG
Support, education, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and friends.
TrevorSpace
Moderated online community for LGBTQ+ people aged 13–24 — a peer space, not a crisis line.
Related guides
Reading & listening
- The Velvet Rage — Alan Downs
- Beyond the Gender Binary — Alok Vaid-Menon
- Gender Queer: A Memoir — Maia Kobabe