There are 1.5 million LGBT adults over the age of 65 in the U.S. For all older adults, aging brings with it many mental health issues, but for LGBT older adults as well as transgender and gender nonconforming older adults, mental health is an even more pressing issue.
According to the SAGE report, LGBTQ older adults face a higher risk of mental health issues due to a lifetime of discrimination, which means they have less access to adequate community support, adequate health care, and economic stability than their heterosexual, cisgender peers. LGBTQ older adults are at higher risk of being diagnosed with depression and anxiety disorders and experiencing social isolation. Thirty-nine percent of LGBTQ older adults have experienced suicidal thoughts in their lifetime, and 31% have symptoms of depression, which is two to three times higher than the general older adult population in the United States. These statistics are even higher for transgender older adults, with 48% experiencing symptoms of depression and 71% reporting a history of suicidal ideation.
Historical employment discrimination experienced by today’s older adults may make it more difficult for them to secure stable employment and save for retirement and old age, and health care discrimination often leads to a persistent mistrust of psychiatrists and other health care providers, making it more difficult for LGBTQ older adults to get their health care needs met.
““We’ve seen how histories of discrimination and bias often lead to higher unemployment rates,” said Cheryl Weiland, SAGE’s senior director of special initiatives and partnerships. Georgia Voice“We know that LGBTQ seniors have historically lacked employment protections. So when we think about our oldest LGBTQ seniors, they grew up in a time when there were no employment protections and it was very common for them to be fired for identifying as LGBTQ,” said Dr. [LGBTQ] Or they may not even be hired because of assumptions people make about their sexual orientation or gender identity. These factors can lead to higher unemployment and difficulties saving, which can lead to housing and food insecurity…. Having stable housing can improve your mental health and overall well-being. [are] I want to become stronger.”
Anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and legislation, which has been on the rise in recent years and often targets LGBTQ youth, also has serious implications for the mental health of LGBTQ older adults.
“We’re seeing a lot of anti-LGBTQ political rhetoric and legislative concerns that are targeted at LGBTQ people,” Weiland says. “These bills and things that we’re seeing across the country are primarily targeted at young people, but we also know that they have a negative impact on older people. So when we start to see negative LGBTQ political rhetoric, it impacts both young people and older people. For older people, this can be traumatic if they’ve experienced discrimination, prejudice and violence their whole life. It can be similar to post-traumatic stress syndrome.”
SAGE combats these unique emotional stresses by providing LGBTQ seniors with resources to find reliable housing and financial support, and they also recently launched HearMe, an app dedicated to connecting older adults with people who are willing to listen.
“HearMe is one of our newer programs,” Weiland said. “It’s LGBTQ-owned and run. The program is there to give someone a sense of support. When someone enrolls in the program, they can text the HearMe number and be connected with a volunteer who will really listen to what they’re going through.”
For many older adults facing social isolation, loneliness and even increased trauma responses due to the prevalence of homophobia and transphobia, the connection that HearMe provides makes a huge difference.
“The data shows that people report feeling better by the end of the conversation,” Weiland says, “and that connection alone has a positive impact on their mental health.”
LGBTQ seniors experiencing a serious mental health crisis are urged to receive immediate help by calling or texting the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. To find senior resources and sign up for HearMe, visit sageusa.org.
