Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQ Youth

Course overview

Course Description: This course is based on material published by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and is available as an open-access article. Like all youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, and intersex youth and other sexual and gender diverse children and adolescents (LGBTQI+ youth) deserve to grow up in supportive environments absent stigma and discrimination that allow them to thrive and achieve their human potential. When seeking behavioral health treatment (both mental health and substance use interventions), these children and adolescents, like their peers, and their families deserve the best evidence-based care from knowledgeable health providers without the risk of harm. This report, Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth, provides behavioral health providers, researchers, policymakers, and other audiences with current knowledge about LGBTQI+ youth, a comprehensive research overview, and important information on behavioral health concerns within this community. More specifically, the report provides details on helpful and harmful interventions for these populations in clinical, community, family, and school settings. In particular, the report documents that attempts to change an individual's sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI; pronounced "SO-gee" change efforts) are harmful and should not be provided. Additionally, this report discusses evidence-informed policy options that could improve the overall health and well-being of LGBTQI+ youth. This course on strategies for supporting LGBTQI+ youth is designed for clinical social workers, psychologists, professional counselors, nurses, and substance abuse counselors who do clinical work. This course is appropriate for intermediate and advanced level practitioners who wish to develop their expertise with strategies for supporting LGBTQI+ youth. The course material includes a literature review of interventions. It may also be useful for licensed clinicians who require continuing clinical education courses for license renewal. The course is based on a journal article that includes research. It contains statistical analysis and data that some clinicians enjoy reading and others do not. A significant benefit of reading peer reviewed research-based articles for continuing education is that they provide practitioners with the latest findings in their field. Authors: SAMHSA Learning Objectives: This course will provide the practitioner with detailed information regarding strategies for supporting LGBTQI+ youth. Specifically, a professional will: Describe professional consensus on beneficial and harmful practices with youth of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Recognize the role of development, behavioral health, and beneficial therapeutic approaches with youth of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. Identify future direction for research in the context of sexual orientation and gender diversity in youth. Describe policy approaches to support behavioral health and well-being of LGBTQI+ youth. Citation: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2023). Moving Beyond Change Efforts: Evidence and Action to Support and Affirm LGBTQI+ Youth. Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://store.samhsa.gov.