Improving Emotional and Behavioral Outcomes for LGBT Youth

Despite growing social acceptance, many young people who are LGBT experience harassment and bullying, family rejection, and social stigmatisation—putting them at high risk for depression and other mental health challenges. How should the mental health community best respond? Answers can be found in this book, which provides a road map to practices, interventions, and policies that will make a positive difference for LGBT youth and their families.

Offering clear and practical information not available in any other volume, this book gives readers the research-based knowledge and recommended practices they need to work toward a stronger system of care and services and supports for LGBT youth and their families. Mental health administrators, policy makers, program developers, and school psychologists will:

• Discover 10 guiding principles of knowledgeable, sensitive, and responsive systems of care for LGBT youth
• Deepen their understanding of the development and expression of sexual identity
• Provide culturally and linguistically responsive services and supports (includes a helpful self-assessment checklist)
• Develop interventions that foster resilience, increase assets and strengths, and mitigate risk factors
• Reduce the incidence of suicide-related and self-harming behavior
• Address the needs of LGBT youth who are homeless
• Involve young people and families in the planning and implementation of services and supports
• Successfully blend formal mental health services and natural supports
• Provide effective support for LGBT youth and their families in schools and out-of-home care settings
• Use social marketing as a tool to reduce discrimination and promote social inclusion

This book equips readers with the very latest research findings, specific practice and policy recommendations, and reliable Internet resources to help professionals support young people who are LGBT and their families as they achieve positive mental health and become increasingly resilient.

With this urgently needed guide to evidence-based, culturally competent mental health practices, professionals will advance systems of care that lead directly to better outcomes for LGBT youth and their families.