Envision:You has revealed the findings of a new assessment of LGBTQ behavioral health needs in Colorado, with a key finding that notes the link between the behavioral health challenges of the LGBTQ community and trauma. Specifically, the report finds that adverse childhood experiences to repeated, ongoing trauma can be felt throughout everyday life as an LGBTQ person navigates a cisgender, heteronormative world.
Envision:You’s Colorado LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health State of the State Survey Report was funded by the Denver Foundation and designed, conducted, and analyzed by OMNI Institute, a Colorado social science research and evaluation consultancy. The data comes from 588 community responses to a digital survey and 17 individual or small group interviews of underrepresented community members.
An Envision:You press release notes that the purpose of the study is “to provide evidence that lawmakers, practitioners, and the community can use to address challenges in service delivery and make policy changes to close the gaps in outcomes between cis-hetero and LGBTQ+ groups.”
In regard to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which can include family dysfunction, abuse, and/or neglect, the survey notes that these experiences have been associated with increased risks of chronic disease, substance use disorder, depression, and suicide attempts. The survey found that 91 percent of trans/nonbinary participants and 80 percent of non-trans/nonbinary participants experienced at least one ACE; more than 40 percent of trans/nonbinary participants experienced more than four ACEs.
The report also explores the importance of community and support systems, especially given the increased isolation many faced, and continue to face, navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The results showed COVID-19 exacerbated feelings of loneliness, with 36 percent of respondents experiencing a loss of their support system(s) as a result of pandemic-related circumstances.
Envision:You Founder and CEO Steven Haden points to another key finding in the report and the need for broad change to shift these figures.
“It’s alarming that 50 percent of the survey respondents had attempted suicide at some point in their life,” Haden says. “We need to do better for individuals who identify as LGBTQ+ and provide support to address their behavioral health needs.”
Visit the Envision:You website to read the full report.
