Mental & Behavioral Health Services for LGBTQ+ Patients
Anxiety and depression are common in the United States and affect members of the LGBTQ+ community at higher rates. Lesbian, gay and bisexual adults are more than twice as likely to have a mental health condition as heterosexual adults. Transgender adults are nearly four times as likely as cisgender people to have a mental health condition, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
At UChicago Medicine, we want you to know that you are not alone. With our team-based care approach, we work to provide mental and behavioral health support in a caring, affirming space for LGBTQ+ patients of all ages.
Specialized Care for People Coping with HIV
Our behavioral health providers in the Chicago Center for HIV Elimination and Care2Prevent are experts in treating LGBTQ+ individuals living with HIV and other infectious diseases. Many of our mental health providers are in our HIV and infectious diseases clinics and are here to see you quickly if you need help managing a new diagnosis or need other kinds of support.
Mental Health Resources for Chicago’s South Side
Our dedicated therapists provide social, emotional and spiritual support to people of all ages on Chicago’s South Side, including those with intersecting identities. Many of our clients are young LGBTQ+ people of color living in low-income communities.
When you come to UChicago Medicine, we take great care to match you with a mental health provider who will be a good fit for you based on your personal needs.
Our goal is to provide a private, safe space where you are fully accepted. We can provide support if you are struggling with substance abuse, sexual trauma or family problems. We can also help you deal with the stress of managing a chronic (long-term) disease if you have one. If you do not have insurance or are under-insured, you may be able to get these services at no cost to you.
We also provide support for transgender-specific issues and needs, including evaluations for gender-affirming treatments.
Many Kinds of Therapies
Our care team can provide many services to help you reach your mental health goals. These include virtual counseling, movement therapy and art therapy. We also provide wellness groups and resource counseling. If needed, we can refer you to an LGBTQ+-friendly provider near you who can evaluate you for medication to help your depression, anxiety or other mental health condition.
If you are in the UChicago Medicine emergency department or admitted to one of our hospitals, you can also ask for support from our behavioral health or spiritual care teams.
Please call us at 1-888-824-0200 to learn more.