The Intersection of Mental Health, Addiction, and Gender Identity

Despite overdose deaths decreasing for the first time since 2018, more than 105,000 people lost their lives to a fatal overdose in 2023 according to a recent report published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Mental health crises like gender dysphoria and substance abuse disorder (SUD) have long plagued many already heavily discriminated against communities such as LGBTQ+ and BIPOC people. This only compounds as identities begin to overlap and blend together through a concept that is commonly referred to as intersectionality, or the meeting of two or more unique identities.

In today’s article, we will be taking a close look at the intersection of mental health, addiction, and gender identity, as well as exploring actionable steps that can be taken to find sustainable, long-term solutions for some of the most at-risk communities.

What Is Intersectionality?

To begin understanding how intersectional gender identities interplay with mental health crises and addiction and can lead to increased negative outcomes for its affected communities, it is important to ground ourselves in the broader concept that is commonly referred to as intersectionality.

Intersectionality is a relatively new mental framework that can be used to help us understand in greater detail how multiple social and political identities overlap to create new identities and sets of experiences for individuals.

Specifically, it actively acknowledges that it is not only possible, but common for people to be disadvantaged by multiple forms of oppression, such as race, socioeconomic class, gender identity, sexual orientation, and religious affinities.

Identity Based Mental Health Disparities

Gender identity and mental health are often linked, with some estimates suggesting that nearly 30% of all LGBTQ+ individuals suffer from addiction. Trauma, social pressure, and stress are some of the most widely accepted root causes for this troubling link between gender identity and addiction.

LGBTQ+ and BIPOC Communities Hit Hard

Of the more than 105,000 fatalities suffered from fatal drug and alcohol overdoses last year, a disproportionate percentage of them come from members of the LGBTQ+ and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, people of color) communities. 

A study from the National Library of Medicine found a significant relationship between race, sexual orientation, and gender and mental health outcomes. Of all the individual combinations of intersectional identities looked at in the study, women of color who were also members of a sexual minority group faced the greatest mental health risks.

Addiction and Intersecting Identities

Significant research has shown an unsettling relationship between intersecting identities and negative mental health outcomes. Individuals who are members of two or more minority groups (racial and sexual, for example) have been shown to face unsettling disparities due to double or even triple discrimination, which the Council of Europe refers to as “discrimination can occur on the basis of more than one or more perceived characteristics”.

For example, nearly 40% of the 4.2 million homeless youth in the United States are members of the LGBTQ community, according to research conducted by the University of Chicago. They also found that these individuals face an increased likelihood of early death or other significant adversities than their heterosexual peers.

Finding Mental Health Care That Works For You

While it is impossible to offer widespread advice on a topic as broad as intersectional identities with a near endless amount of possibilities, it remains important to reiterate that diverse resources do exist and that there are countless options available.

Understanding Gender Affirming Care

The phrase “gender affirming care” has been thrown around a lot in recent years, yet significant misunderstanding of it continues to persist. This widespread misinformation leads to increased negative outcomes for affected individuals and difficulty in finding viable, long-term care for key mental health issues.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), gender affirming care refers to a wide range of social, behavioral, and medical interventions “designed to support and affirm an individual’s gender identity” for any conflicts involving the gender that they were biologically assigned at birth.

How this looks practically varies depending on the individual and their unique set of circumstances. These solutions could range from vocal and speech therapy to help align vocal characteristics with gender identity to hormone therapy and professional assistance coming out to loved ones.

Diverse Mental Health Resources

There are countless free, highly accessible mental health resources that are available for people with all types of gender identities and orientations. A few of the most popular include the following:

• Trans Lifeline: +1 877-565-8860
• Youth Talkline: +1 800-96-YOUTH
• Trevor Lifeline: +1 866-488-7386
• National Suicide Prevention Hotline: +1 800-273-8255

While these are by no means the only mental health resources available, they all offer a great starting point for individuals of their respective communities who are looking to get a plan in place and build a long-term mental health plan.

SoberMind Recovery Is Here to Help

SoberMind Recovery is a Los Angeles recovery center that offers a wide range of specialized treatment, recovery, and rehabilitation programs, ranging from LGBTQ sober living to dual diagnosis treatment. They also provide individual, group, and cognitive behavioral therapy options.

Our mission here at SoberMind Recovery is to provide individualized, research-backed care in a compassionate and high-quality environment while making a difference in the world of addiction. We help people achieve long-lasting recovery and lead well-balanced lives.

Residents of the Los Angeles area are encouraged to call today 100% free of charge at 818-835-9268 or 819-398-8047 to see if our compassionate, evidence-based treatment options are a good fit for you and your recovery needs.