By Dan Sweet, Associate Director

In the North Country, we don’t talk a lot about living well with chronic conditions. We talk even less about the people who carry that weight while also facing stigma, discrimination, and the exhausting work of simply being accepted.

We know that managing diabetes, heart disease, or high blood pressure takes more than medication and doctor’s visits. It takes community. It takes feeling seen and supported. And it takes spaces where people can show up as exactly who they are.

That’s why the work of Get Healthy North Country extends beyond physical health. Because who we are, how we’re treated, and whether we feel like we belong all have a direct impact on our wellbeing.

People who identify as LGBTQIA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual, and more) experience chronic conditions at higher rates than the general population. They also face significant mental health disparities. According to Mental Health America, more than 55% of LGBTQIA+ individuals who completed a mental health screening reported frequent thoughts of suicide, compared to fewer than 40% of non-LGBTQIA+ respondents. Among transgender respondents, that number climbed above 57%.

These numbers are not a reflection of identity. Being LGBTQIA+ is not a mental health condition. The disparities stem from what many LGBTQIA+ people face in their daily lives: rejection from family or community, stigma, harassment, and barriers to accessing affirming care. When people don’t feel safe or accepted, their health suffers. That is true for all of us, and the research bears it out.

The good news is that belonging is protective. Studies show that LGBTQIA+ people who have supportive families, affirming communities, and safe spaces are significantly less likely to experience severe mental health challenges. Something as simple as using a person’s chosen name and pronouns has been shown to reduce depression and suicidal ideation. Acceptance makes a measurable difference.

Here in our region, the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance is a valuable resource for LGBTQIA+ individuals and their families, offering connections to local support, healthcare resources, and community.

At Get Healthy North Country, we are taking concrete steps to make our programs more inclusive. We are working with Lower ADK Pride to conduct a language audit of our surveys and program materials, ensuring our language reflects and respects the full range of identities in our communities. And our workshops, which bring together people living with chronic conditions across the region, are designed to be spaces where everyone can speak honestly and be heard.

Living well with a chronic condition is hard enough without also feeling like you have to hide who you are. We want every person who walks through our doors to feel welcome.

Here are a few ways to support LGBTQIA+ mental health in your community:

Use a person’s chosen name and pronouns
Speak up when you witness bullying or discrimination
Look for LGBTQIA+-affirming providers and encourage others to do the same
Connect people with local resources like the Adirondack North Country Gender Alliance at adkncga.org
Show up and keep showing up!

Community is medicine. And in the North Country, we know how to take care of each other.