The patient population of a no-cost, student-run LGBTQ + mental health clinic: A case for equitable and trauma-informed care

Abstract

Introduction

LGBTQ + individuals experience disproportionately high rates of mental health disorders. Subpopulations of this community experience unique risk factors and barriers to accessing care.

Method

This study analyzes chart review data of patients (n = 49) of an LGBTQ+-specific, student-run, free mental health clinic in NYC between March 2019 and July 2021.

Result

Most common diagnoses were mood disorders (55%) and anxiety disorders (53%). Eighty-eight percent of patients reported experiencing lifetime traumatic events; 20% of patients met criteria for PTSD.

Conclusion

Further research is needed to characterize vulnerable subpopulations to create equitable, accessible, and competent mental health care resources for the LGBTQ + community.

Keywords:

• Student-run clinics
• LGBTQ+
• healthcare disparities
• mental health

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank all students, faculty, and staff who have volunteered with and supported the Wellness Qlinic, especially students who have served on the clinical team, including as patient coordinators, clinical operations coordinators, patient service directors and practice managers.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest and certify responsibility for the manuscript.

Ethics approval statement

This research study was conducted retrospectively from data obtained for clinical purposes. We consulted extensively with the IRB of Weill Cornell Medicine, who determined that our study met criteria for IRB exempt status. An IRB official waiver of ethical approval was granted from the IRB of Weill Cornell Medicine.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Constance Zhou, upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The Weill Cornell Medicine Wellness Qlinic has received financial support from the APA Helping Hands Grant and the AAMC NEXT Award. Constance Zhou, Sarah Szwed and Matthew Wickersham were supported by a Medical Scientist Training Program grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health under award number T32GM007739 to the Weill Cornell/Rockefeller/Sloan Kettering Tri-Institutional MD-PhD Program.