Radiant Minds: Nurturing Mental Health for All - ATRA's Mental Health Virtual Summit 2024

90 minutes

In the US, more young people identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community than ever before. Additionally, youth are beginning to understand, acknowledge, and express their gender identity and sexual orientation at a younger age. Open expression of oneself can be an empowering experience for LGBTQ+ youth. When this expression is met with rejection, however, negative outcomes across the dimensions of health are more likely to occur.

LGBTQ+ youth face a variety of unique stressors. When compared to cisgender and heterosexual peers, LGBTQ+ youth are more likely to report bullying and harassment, discrimination, social isolation, homelessness, and violence. These compounding factors result in LGBTQ+ youth experiencing a variety of mental health disorders and symptoms at a higher rate than peers outside of the community, including anxiety, depression, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicidal ideation. Within the LGBTQ+ community, gender diverse youth represent a population even further at risk for poor mental health outcomes. With recent increases in legislation aiming to regulate access to public facilities and sources of recreation, such as restrooms, locker rooms, and school-based athletics, accessing and participating in meaningful leisure outlets can be increasingly complex for gender diverse youth.

According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association Code of Ethics, TRs are responsible for ensuring that individuals are served fairly and equitably regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Due to our specific skill set, professional values, and client-centered and strengths-based approach, TR practitioners are well-poised to provide and lead other healthcare and social service professionals in providing informed and affirming services to gender diverse youth. This presentation will examine key considerations essential to providing inclusive, high-quality, evidence-based TR intervention to gender diverse youth across settings. Population level concerns, demographic and societal trends, and strategies for navigating complex family relationships will be reviewed, and further resources for learning will be explored. Unique considerations for enhancing access to and participation in leisure will be examined, and ethical considerations for treating gender diverse youth as a TR professional will be discussed.

1. Define 2+ unique considerations for promoting leisure access and participation for gender diverse youth

2. Describe 2+ evidence-based, affirming practices or care approaches to TR intervention with gender diverse youth

3. Identify 2+ resources for ongoing learning and/or support for gender diverse youth and/or their families and caregivers