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.
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.