• Recruit providers who can culturally connect with people of color clients .
• Develop culturally-sensitive stigma reduction strategies ( noted elsewhere in this report ).
• Create and / or expand mentorship programs and Peer Support Programs . h )
Action Area : People Who Identify as LGBTQ
One group that tends to be marginalized in communities across the United States , the LGBTQ population , was particularly interesting due to the fact that many participants tended not to have much information about them .
About 4.5 % of adults in the US identify as LGB 39 , and this group faces an environment that puts them at risk for mental health problems 40 .
• “ People aren ' t as open about this and they don ' t push . Danger for transgender people , shelters assign people on gender assigned at birth , but no trans woman is going to stay at men ’ s shelter , for example . LGBTQ youth kicked out of homes and don ' t have anywhere to go but they can ' t shelter them because of their age , and parents need to give permission for the youth shelters .”
• “ LGBTQ population is tough . Pride Polk County helps younger population especially with higher rates of suicide . Polk is rural and faith-based , so many kids don ' t feel comfortable coming out .”
• “ Gay Straight Alliances are helpful at the high school level , and this may be a good model to use for mental health .”
Examples of Potential Interventions for Stage 3
• Expand Gay Straight Alliances at local schools ( https :// gsanetwork . org / what-is-a-gsa ).
• Increase awareness of employers who hire based on sexual orientation or LGBTQ status .
• Build social activities into home room at schools to help build a more accepting culture .
39 https :// news . gallup . com / poll / 259571 / americans-greatly-overestimate-gay-population . aspx