Happy Pride Month
June is Pride Month, highlighting the identities, history, and accomplishments of LGBTQ+
people in the United States and over 100 countries worldwide. We care deeply for our LGBTQ+
patients, and Rochester Holistic Psychiatry offers a safe space for self-expression and deepening
self-knowledge.
Psychiatrists and therapists provide specialized care for LGBTQ+ patients by creating affirming
environments to address mental health conditions like depression and anxiety. They offer
identity-informed therapy, navigate gender dysphoria, help with medication management
during medical transitions, and provide documentation for gender-affirming care.
Supporting LGBTQ+ mental health requires fostering a safe environment and connecting
individuals to specialized care. Key actions include using chosen names and pronouns,
addressing bullying, and providing unconditional support. Professional care should be both
culturally competent and LGBTQ+-affirming.
Psychiatrists offer the following key services for LGBTQ+ patients:
− Gender affirmation support, providing comprehensive evaluations, specialized therapy,
and helping patients navigate transitions. They can also supply the necessary medical
letters of support required for gender-affirming surgeries if that is what the patient
seeks.
− Trauma-informed care to address identity-based trauma, minority stress, and the
psychological impact of stigma or discrimination.
− Family and relationship therapy to assist partners and families in understanding and
accepting LGBTQ+ individuals, which is proven to reduce suicidality and anxiety in youth.
− Medication management to ensure that psychiatric medications (e.g., for depression or
PTSD) interact safely with gender-affirming hormone therapies or HIV prevention
medications.
The following are some key ways for professionals and other allies to offer support:
− Respect their identities by using a person’s correct name and pronouns. Research shows
this significantly reduces depression and suicide risk.
− Build acceptance by fostering a welcoming environment at home, school, and work. For
youth, family acceptance is a major protective factor that prevents mental health crises.
− Listen with compassion and communicate without judgment. Let them know they are
supported.
− Speak up and actively challenge anti-LGBTQ+ language, bullying, and discrimination in
your community.
− Find affirming providers that help connect individuals with mental health professionals
who specialize in LGBTQ+ care.
If you or someone you know needs immediate assistance, these organizations offer confidential
help:
− The Trevor Project is available 24/7 for youth. Call 866-488-7386 or text START to 678-
678. Access their Trevor Project Mental Health Resources for self-care guides.
− 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Call or text 988. It is confidential, free, and available 24/7.
− Trans Lifeline. Call 877-565-8860 for peer-to-peer support run by and for the
transgender community.
− LGBTQ+ Healthcare Directory. Use the Human Rights Campaign Healthcare Directory to
find inclusive physical and mental health care providers.
Because not all mental health professionals practice LGBTQ+-affirming care, it is important to
find providers who specialize in this area. To locate an affirming psychiatrist in the Rochester,
NY area, explore the Psychology Today LGBTQ+ Directory or review the best-practice guidelines
published by the American Psychiatric Association.
The best way to start exploring the history of Pride is to dive into the roots of the modern
LGBTQ+ rights movement, beginning with the foundational Stonewall Riots of 1969 in New York
City. This initial dive sets the stage for understanding decades of activism, the AIDS crisis, and
the ongoing fight for equality.
The following are some accessible media formats for becoming
more informed.
− The Stonewall Reader. Edited by the New York Public Library, this collection provides
primary sources like diary entries, newspaper articles, and first-hand accounts from the
early days of the movement.
− The Stonewall Riots: Coming Out in the Streets by Gayle E. Pitman is an engaging look at
the people and events that sparked the first Pride marches.
− Pride: The Story of the LGBTQ Equality Movement by Matthew Todd is a visually rich
historical overview of global LGBTQ+ history.
For questions and appointments, write to us on our website or call us at (585) 442-6960.
