Depression in LGBTQIA+ Clients: Causes & Treatment

About the course

“Is it minority stress, psychological dynamics, medical, or substance-induced?” should be one of the first questions that an affirmative therapists ask themselves when working with a depressed client. According to the NIH in 2021, an estimated 21 million adults in the US have had at least one major depressive episode. Depression within LGBTQIA+ people is prevalent with some estimates as high as 50%. However, depressive signs and symptoms can often be overlooked and assumed to be related to minority stressors. Many medical conditions, including but not limited to, hypothyroidism, diabetes, cancer, and HIV, can mimic depression. Common medications and drugs, such as nicotine, alcohol, anticonvulsants, and corticosteroids, can create depressive symptoms. Environmental toxicants have depressogenic effects and more commonly impact BIPOC. Diets low in fruits and vegetables and high in red and/or processed meats, refined grains, sweets, and high-fat dairy are also associated with a higher risk of depression. Treatment of these various depressions, whether psychological, caused by a medical condition, or by a substance, requires different approaches in order to be effective. This course will be an overview of clues that mental health professionals properly assess whether or not depressive symptoms are psychological and support LGBTQIA+ clients to build effective treatment teams to navigate care. We will also cover major classes of antidepressant and mood stabilizing psychotropic medications and their side effects to help therapists collaborate with psychiatrists more effectively.