SAFETY EXPERT TROOPER STEVE, THIS IS NEWS 6 AT 09:00AM GETTING RESULTS.
>> JULIE: JUNE IS PRIDE IS
TIME FOR SOLIDARITY AND
CELEBRATION OF THE LGBTQ PLUS
COMMUNITY. AND TO EMBRACE
IDENTITY SUPPORT AND
ACCEPTANCE HAS A TREMENDOUS
IMPACT ON SOMEONE’S MENTAL
HEALTH. ANYTHING PERSONAL
SAFETY. THERE ARE SO MANY
RESOURCES HERE LOCALLY FOR
LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH MORNING
ANCHOR AND HEALTH REPORTER
KIRSTIN O’CONNOR IS HERE NOW
TO ASK A DOCTOR ABOUT ASK A
DOCTOR IS SPONSORED BY CAN BE
PRIMARY CARE FOR SENIORS.
>> DOCTOR SHERRY BENTON IS A
PSYCHOLOGIST AND SHE’S
ACTUALLY THE FOUNDER OF TAO
CONNECT WHICH STANDS FOR
THERAPY ASSISTANCE ONLINE.
WE’VE DONE STORIES ON THERAPY
ASSISTANTS ONLINE HERE ON
CLICKORLANDO.COM, SHE ALSO
SAYS HER ONLINE MENTAL HEALTH
TOOLS ARE FOR SELF-HELP OR TO
BE USED WITH A THERAPIST OR
PEER COUNSELOR. AND SHE SAYS
IT’S IMPORTANT TO PROVIDE
MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES THAT
FOCUS ON DIVERSITY AND GIVE
TEENS AND YOUNG ADULTS IN THE
LGBTQ PLUS, COMMUNITY A PLACE
TO FEEL ACCEPTANCE.
>> THE NEEDS ESPECIALLY FOR
ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT
LGBTQ PLUS. ABOUT 60%
ADOLESCENT YOUNG ADULTS REPORT
ANXIETY SYMPTOMS AND ABOUT 40%
HAVE BEEN. SUICIDAL OR
SUFFERING SYMPTOMS OF
DEPRESSION. WHAT TOWN HAS IS
SOME EVIDENCE BASED. CBT BASE
TREATMENTS FOR ANXIETY AND
DEPRESSION THAT CAN BE REALLY
EFFECTIVE. IN ALL OF OUR
MATERIALS ARE. REALLY ATTENDED
DIVERSITY, BOTH IN TERMS OF.
RACIAL ETHNIC. RELIGIOUS AND
LGBTQ VERSUS STRAIGHT.
>> CANDACE: NOW ABOUT 200
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES USE
THAT AL CONNECT APP. BUT
DOCTOR BENTON SAYS LGBTQ
INDIVIDUALS ARE 3 TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE A MENTAL
HEALTH CONDITION.
>> THE 2 THINGS THAT REALLY
CONTRIBUTE TO THAT KIND OF
LEVEL A PREVALENT IN THE LEVEL
OF CAN SUFFER 4 PEOPLE IN THAT
COMMUNITY. ACCEPTANCE FROM
OTHERS AND SELF-ACCEPTANCE. IF
YOU HAVE THOSE THINGS, YOU’RE
LESS AT RISK FOR THINGS LIKE
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION IN
LGBTQ COMMUNITY. UNFORTUNATELY
FOR A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE
THOSE ARE PROBLEMS. AND WHEN
YOU’RE NOT FEELING LIKE YOU,
THE COMMUNITY OF ACCEPTANCE
SUPPORT YOUR RISK FOR ANXIETY
AND DEPRESSION GOES AND
ESPECIALLY FOR. YOU KNOW,
ADOLESCENTS YOUNG ADULTS WHO
ARE JUST COMING TO TERMS WITH
THEIR OWN IDENTITY. SO EXCEPT
IN SAYS MISSION, YOU KNOW, IT
BELIEVING THAT THIS IS OK THAT
YOU KNOW, THIS IS WOODEN FIND
WAY TO GO ABOUT MY WORLD AND
AND YOU’LL BE OK, WELL, THAT’S
A STRUGGLE, ESPECIALLY IF THE
PEOPLE AROUND YOU ARE NOT
PARTICULARLY ACCEPTING, THEN
IT BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO
ACCEPT YOURSELF AND I REALLY
THINK THAT A LOT OF THE SITE
IN DEPRESSION REALLY BOILS
DOWN TO THE ACCEPTANCE.
>> CANDACE: SHE ALSO SAYS WHEN
SEEKING THE RIGHT THERE UP US
FOR ANY LGBTQ MENTAL HEALTH
NEEDS. THERE ARE A FEW THINGS
TO CONSIDER.
>> FINDING THE RIGHT COUNSELOR
IS CRUCIAL FOR ANY. BUT
THERE’S GOT TO BE A GOOD
MATCH. THERE HAS TO BE A SENSE
OF TRUST AND COMFORT AND
ACCEPTANCE THAT STARE. AND IF
YOU’RE NOT FEELING THAT GO
FIND ANOTHER COUNSELOR. AND
THAT’S TRUE. NO MATTER WHO YOU
ARE. YOU KNOW, THAT IT’S WE
CONNECT WITH SOME PEOPLE MORE
THAN THAT’S JUST THE WAY IT
IS. AND FINDING THAT PERSON.
YOU CAN KIND OF CONNECT TO
CRITICAL FOR IT TO BE
EFFECTIVE BECAUSE YOU’VE GOT
TO FEEL COMFORTABLE SHARING
ANYTHING AND FEELING LIKE
THAT’S GOING TO BE OK AND IT’S
GOING TO BE SAFE YOU’RE GOING
TO FIND IT HELPFUL.
>> CANDACE: NOW. DOCTOR BENTON
ALSO SAYS IT’S NOT IMPORTANT
TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU’RE
DIAGNOSABLE. IF YOU HAVE
MENTAL HEALTH SYMPTOMS THAT
ARE AFFECTING YOUR EVERYDAY