Support Affirming Mental Health This Pride
Hi Friends,
Sex, identity, family, relationships: All of these are topics you talk about with your therapist—and all are intimately related to sexual orientation and gender identity. How can you get help with family issues if your mental-health provider doesn’t understand what it’s like to have a different gender identity than your parents or siblings? How can you get help with issues related to sex if your provider isn’t comfortable discussing your sexual practices?
You can’t. That’s one reason why so many LGBTQ+ people aren’t getting the mental healthcare they need today. In Oregon, nearly twice as many lesbian, gay, and bisexual people as straight people report frequent mental distress. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and questioning youth are a staggering five times more likely than their straight peers to report attempting suicide in the past year.
If you are going through a crisis, where do you turn to for support? At CAP, we believe that every member of the LGBTQ+ community who wants it should have access to safe, welcoming, and knowledgeable mental health- care.
That was CAP’s vision when we launched the Behavioral Health Program at our LGBTQ+ health center, Prism Health, two years ago. Since then, our small but mighty team of mental-health providers have seen hundreds of patients. We’ve helped people who have never felt comfortable seeing a therapist before due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Thanks to Prism’s sliding-scale fee structure, we’ve helped people who have never been able to afford mental healthcare get the support they need. We’ve helped people with depression, gender dysphoria, PTSD, and thoughts of harming themselves.
The problem is, right now, not every member of our community who needs help can get it. Prism’s mental-health providers are booked solid, forcing us to turn away patients experiencing mental-health issues. When CAP board member Jim Hess heard about this, he was moved into action; feeling strongly that no one who had the courage to ask for help should be put on a waitlist and told that help will come someday. Jim decided to make a gift that would allow CAP to hire more providers for our Behavioral Health Program. But he also wanted to inspire other LGBTQ+ people and allies to support mental healthcare for our community.
That’s where you come in! For every person who donates to CAP at any amount, Jim will match that dona- tion—up to $50,000. That means your gift of $10 becomes $20 and $50 becomes $100.
Can you help? Every dollar we raise helps CAP provide inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people living with HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. Every dollar raised means that more people can get the help they need when they need it.
If you or someone you love has ever experienced insensitive or incompetent care, you understand what’s at stake. If you or a loved one has found care that makes you feel safe and seen, you understand what’s to be gained. Help CAP give that gift to someone in need and tangibly expand mental healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community.
Sincerely
Tyler TerMeer, CEO
About Prism Health
Prism Health provides high quality, affordable, and accessible health care for all, with a focus on serving individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus all other gender and sexual minorities (LGBTQ+). All of Prism services aim to reach the most vulnerable – those living below the poverty line, communities of color, homeless or unstably housed individuals, and people experiencing mental health and/or addiction issues.
