Breaking Barriers to Mental Health Support — Take Action This Suicide Prevention Month
Affirming care helps LGBTQ+ community members find path to recovery
Trigger Warning: This article discusses suicide, suicidal thoughts and mental health crises. If you're experiencing thoughts of suicide, please see crisis resources at the end of this article.
September marks National Suicide Prevention Month, a time when communities across the country focus on raising awareness about suicide prevention and supporting those who struggle with suicidal thoughts. For LGBTQ+ individuals, particularly transgender and nonbinary people, this awareness takes on urgent significance — but it also brings an important message of hope and healing.
While the statistics around LGBTQ+ mental health reveal significant disparities, organizations like CNS Healthcare in Michigan are proving that with the right support and affirming care, recovery is not only possible but achievable.
According to The Trevor Project's 2024 U.S. National Survey, nearly two out of five LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide in the past year, with transgender and nonbinary youth facing even higher rates. For transgender adults, research from UCLA's Williams Institute found they were seven times more likely to contemplate suicide compared to their peers.
Recent political developments have added another layer of stress. The overwhelming majority of LGBTQ+ young people report that their well-being has been negatively impacted by anti-LGBTQ+ politics and laws. A study conducted by The Trevor Project found a direct causal link between anti-transgender laws and increased suicide attempts among young people in those states.
"These findings demonstrate that, regardless of a person's political beliefs, if you live in a state that has passed an anti-transgender law, transgender, nonbinary young people in your home state are significantly more likely to attempt to take their own life," Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, said in a statement about the survey.
Importantly, Nath added, "Trans and nonbinary young people are not inherently prone to increased suicide risk because of their gender identity." The elevated risks stem from societal mistreatment, stigma and discrimination — factors that can be addressed through affirming care, supportive policies and community acceptance.
Despite the overwhelming need, access remains challenging for many. About half of LGBTQ+ community members who needed mental health care in the past year couldn't access it, according to The Trevor Project. The barriers often go beyond logistics to include fears about acceptance and understanding.
Joshua Black Longstreet, chair of the CNS Healthcare LBGTQIA+ Committee, explains that stigma is always a barrier to mental health services, but LGBTQ+ people face additional challenges.
"For LGBTQ+ people, there are additional barriers, like being unsure if they will be accepted by their care team," Longstreet said. The most effective approaches, he explained, center people's comfort. "We want to do everything we can to make people feel comfortable in their own skin and their own identity."
At CNS, this focus includes extensive staff training and updating records to reflect preferred names and pronouns. The practice is also dedicated to removing barriers to service. "We provide care to everyone who needs help," Longstreet stressed, "regardless of insurance, residency status or living situation."
CNS Healthcare Program Manager Amy Stern emphasizes the unique considerations for LGBTQ+ mental health care. "Our LGBTQ+ clients often carry trauma from years of rejection or invalidation, which can complicate their healing journey. Creating genuinely affirming spaces means more than just hanging a rainbow flag — it requires ongoing education, self-reflection from our staff and a commitment to seeing each person's full humanity."
The Zero Suicide model is an evidence-based approach that operates on the belief that all suicide deaths are preventable when it comes to individuals receiving care from health and behavioral health care systems. Organizations applying these core components see suicide rates for those in their care drop by 60% to 80%.
This systematic approach helps healthcare providers identify suicide risk, provide safer suicide care and improve overall care quality through risk assessment, safety planning tools and data tracking.
The Zero Suicide model extends beyond individual treatment to community collaboration. At CNS Healthcare, providers partner with schools, businesses and community organizations to create suicide-safe communities.
"CNS has always taken our role and responsibility in the community very seriously," Stern said about the practice's approach to the Zero Suicide model. "It's a significant part of our mission to make our communities more understanding of individuals who are experiencing mental health challenges and to make our communities a safer place for individuals that we serve."
What to do if you or someone you know needs help
Sara Beckett, CNS Healthcare's Clinical Training Specialist, emphasizes that for someone experiencing crisis, "the most important first step they can take is to tell someone and ask for help. For a lot of people that's easier said than done, but it's crucial. All of us operate differently and that includes the way we show people we are in crisis and the way we recognize crisis in others. Never assume that someone knows."
CNS Healthcare offers same-day services at all offices, meaning people can walk in and get help immediately, from medication reviews to peer support.
Recovery and healing for LGBTQ+ individuals who've struggled with suicidal thoughts is deeply personal and individual. Beckett explains "Recovery and healing are possible. Your path will be unique — try not to measure yourself against anyone else's timeline. The aim isn't to 'cure' suicidal thoughts — those thoughts are more common than people realize and aren't something to be ashamed of. The goal is to learn tools that help you through a crisis, build reliable supports, and feel confident asking for help when you need it."
"Work toward creating a life that feels worth living for you," Beckett adds. "Progress rarely moves in a straight line, and that's OK."
Research supports the importance of affirmation and acceptance in recovery. LGBTQ+ individuals report lower rates of attempting suicide when they have access to LGBTQ-affirming spaces, with family support proving particularly crucial.
This Suicide Prevention Month, the message is clear: No one has to face mental health challenges alone. With affirming care, community support and evidence-based approaches like the Zero Suicide model, recovery and healing are not just possible — they're happening every day.
If you're struggling with suicidal thoughts, remember that help is available and recovery is possible. Your story matters, your life has value and there are people ready to support you on your journey toward healing.
Crisis Resources: If you're experiencing thoughts of suicide, help is available 24/7. Call or text 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or contact CNS Healthcare's crisis lines: Oakland County (800-231-1127), Wayne County (800-242-4949), or Macomb County (855-927-4747).
This content is made possible through our partnership with CNS Healthcare.
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