Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Trauma in LGBTQ Youth

Abstract

Traumatic experiences in childhood and adolescence have been shown to have adverse impacts on later mental health and physical health outcomes across the lifespan (Felitti et al., 1998). Research suggests that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth are at greater risk than their same-age counterparts of experiencing a wide variety of traumas. In fact, some traumas may be specific to LGBTQ youth who are at risk for discrimination, harassment, and abuse because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This article will provide an overview of trauma in general as well as types of experiences of traumas that may be particular to LGBTQ youth in hopes that the professional community can be more aware of and appropriately assess for such experiences as part of a larger prevention and intervention effort to help these vulnerable youth.