Contact:
Rachel Ball
media@omni.org
303.839.9422
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2022
NEW SURVEY OF LGBTQ+ COLORADANS ILLUMINATES PERVASIVENESS OF EARLY CHILDHOOD TRAUMA AND
ITS LINK TO SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES
ENVISION:YOU’S LGBTQ+ BEHAVIORAL HEALTH STATE OF THE STATE SURVEY REPORT PROVIDES INSIGHTS INTO
THE UNIQUE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH NEEDS OF LGBTQ+ COLORADANS
DENVER, CO — Envision:You’s Colorado LGBTQ+ Behavioral Health State of the State Survey Report reveals the pervasiveness of trauma and loneliness within the LGBTQ+ community. Funded by The Denver Foundation, Colorado social science research and evaluation consultancy OMNI Institute designed, conducted, and analyzed the statewide assessment. Data presented in the report comes from 588 community responses to a digital survey and 17 individual or small group interviews of underrepresented community members.
Purpose of the Survey
The purpose of the survey 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.
Key Findings
A key finding of the survey is the link between the behavioral health challenges of the LGBTQ+ community and trauma, specifically Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs). These can include experiences of family dysfunction, abuse, and/or neglect and have been associated with increased risks of chronic disease, substance use disorder, and depression and suicide attempts. The survey showed that 91% of trans/non-binary participants and 80% of non-trans/non-binary participants had experienced at least one ACE. Over 40% of trans/non-binary participants experienced 4+ ACEs. The report also dives into the importance of community and support systems as feelings of isolation and loneliness can negatively impact mental health and finding sources of support can be more challenging for LGBTQ+ people. COVID-19 exacerbated feelings of loneliness with 36% of respondents experiencing a loss of their support system(s) as a result of circumstances related to COVID-19.
Multiple outreach strategies were employed to ensure survey and interview participation from individuals from communities of color and rural areas, people with disabilities, and those experiencing homelessness, language barriers, or other barriers to participation. Both the survey and interviews were conducted in English and Spanish. Over 200 community organizations across the state supported participant recruitment through their networks. The plan included attendance at local LGBTQ+-relevant events, information distribution at key public locations, and participant incentives.
To read the full report, click here.
"This ground-breaking survey on the current state of behavioral health needs and wellness of LGBTQ+ individuals in Colorado has given us a glimpse of how difficult it can be to manage one's mental health when systematic barriers to care are in place," said Steven Haden (he/him), CEO and Co-Founder of Envision:You. "It's time we made health equity a reality for LGBTQ+ folks by creating affordable, accessible and culturally affirming care that validates them as human beings."
"Data about the LGBTQ+ community often fails to represent the diverse experiences and needs of individuals, especially trans and nonbinary folx, and instead presents a homogenized view of what it means to be LGBTQ+. Through this report, we hope to change that," said T Schweimler (they/them), Project Lead Researcher at OMNI Institute. "Coming into the project with the knowledge that LGBTQ+ communities experience a wide range of health disparities (including higher rates of substance use, mental health issues, and suicide), it was important to us to create a survey that captured those intra-community differences that would really show how and why experiences and needs are different, and how this new knowledge could be used to improve health outcomes for LGBTQ+ Coloradans."
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About Envision:You
The mission of Envision:You is to support, educate, and empower members of Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community who are living with a mental health or substance use disorder. The mental health challenges Envision:You is addressing have deep roots and solutions are complex. Undeterred, Envision:You is committed to improving the mental health of Colorado's LGBTQ+ community with a multifaceted approach in collaboration with partners from around the state. To learn more visit www.envision-you.org.
About OMNI Institute
OMNI Institute is a Colorado-based nonprofit social science consultancy that provides integrated research, evaluation, and capacity building services to foster understanding, guide collaboration, and inform action to accelerate positive social change focused on children and families, community and behavioral health, economic security, and adult and juvenile justice. Founded in 1976, OMNI Institute has honed a nationally recognized service delivery model that is focused on rigorous research and application of best practices, authentic engagement with clients and their vested partners, and the cross-systems expertise and insights needed to address complex social issues. To learn more visit www.omni.org.
About The Denver Foundation
The Denver Foundation is a community foundation that inspires people and mobilizes resources to improve life in Metro Denver. In 2021, the Foundation and its donors awarded $115 million in grants. The Denver Foundation has three roles: stewarding an endowment to meet current and future needs for Metro Denver, working with community leaders to address the core challenges that face the community and managing more than 1,000 charitable funds on behalf of individuals, families and businesses. To learn more about The Denver Foundation, visit www.denverfoundation.org.