LGBTQ+ youth of color at risk for mental health concerns

DOVER, De. – Troubling new statistics reveal that anxiety and psychosis remain high among youth.

Studies show children or youth of color in the LGBTQ+ community, tend to suffer a great deal more. African Americans and Latino/Hispanic Americans have the highest rate of diagnosis thus far and see high rates of anxiety and ADHD.

Family Practice and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner Ericka Taylor-Daniel is owner of A Peaceful Place Integrated Care. This is a practice which provides integrated primary care and addictions treatment for individuals with current, or in remission, substance and/or alcohol use disorders. says youth of color are not able to discuss issues within their communities.

She says that unfortunately, in many communities of color, mental health and sexual preferences and identities, are something that one is told to either go to church as a refuge, or not talk about.  This is due to historical stereotypical ideologies.

Taylor-Daniel says these practices are even more damaging. When one does not have the ability to decompress an already difficult topic, it opens avenues for unhealthy outlets. “It’s difficult for anybody, but certainly when we have LGBTQ+ youth of color, the under-representation of role models or people to talk to… there are challenges in identifying sexuality and issues that may not be as openly discussed at home.”

She goes on to say that although this report was done with good intentions, historically, children of color are often misdiagnosed and these numbers may not reflect an accurate account. Many cases of PTSD and anxiety are misrepresented as psychosis, and in her experience, children who were traumatized were receiving diagnoses and medication that wasn’t conducive to their overall mental health.

Open lines of communication and talking with your child can make all the difference, she says, and not making your child or loved one felt guilty about their feelings, can change the way they see themselves.