Long island lgbtq supportive service initiative - long island crisis center's "pride for youth" (PFY) program will address the health disparity amongst lesbian, GAY, bisexual, transgender,…

Long island lgbtq supportive service initiative - long island crisis center's "pride for youth" (PFY) program will address the health disparity amongst lesbian, GAY, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (lgbtq) individuals in new york's nassau county. The lgbtq community represents a diver range of identities and expressions of gender and sexual orientation. In addition to these identities, members of the community are diverse in terms of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality and socioeconomic class. This intersectionality brings diversity of thought, perspective, and understanding and experience. While belonging to this community can be a source of strength, IT also brings unique challenges. LGB adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition. Transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition. LGB youth also experience greater risk for mental health conditions and suicidality. LGB youth are more than twice as likely to report experiencing persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness than their heterosexual peers. Licc's pride for youth program will address the mental health inequalities that disproportionately affect lgbtq youth and young adults. PFY will increase access to free mental health services (in-person and telehealth) to both english and monolingual spanish speaking only individuals, launch a new weekly women's group for bisexual women, expand PFY's pre-existing community education program to increase lgbtq competency amongst the general population, and increase the operational frequency of the agency's parent and family services group (pride for parents). Continual data-driven methods and community member input will inform the development and execution of activities. By aligning the needs of lgbtq long islanders with the program's success, the program will prove to be integral to new york state's efforts in addressing the mental health inequalities amongst lgbtq new yorkers.