by Dr. Amir Ahuja, Board Certified Psychiatrist and Director of Psychiatry at the Los Angeles LGBT Center
Dr. Ahuja is a Board Certified Psychiatrist and a leading voice for the LGBTQ community. As Director of Psychiatry at the LA LGBT Center, the largest LGBT Center in the world, he leads a team that sees over 2,500 patients.
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is one of the most common mental illnesses in America, affecting more than 21 million US adults.1 Depression can happen to anyone, at any age, and to people of any race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or religious background.2 While only 4.5% of the US population identifies as LGBTQ+, 39% of the LGBTQ+ community has reported experiencing mental illness in the past year.3 In fact, LGBTQ+ adults are 2.5 times more likely to use mental health services compared to cisgender heterosexual adults.3 This can be compounded by the unique challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, such as discrimination or rejection from loved ones and society or a lack of trust in the health care system.
Here, Dr. Amir Ahuja, MD, Board Certified Psychiatrist, shares his personal insights into the challenges that members of the LGBTQ+ community may face in experiencing and managing depression—as well as some coping strategies.
1. What is your background and experience in treating patients living with depression?
Depression is anything but simple. It’s an illness like no other, and some forms of depression can persist even after multiple treatments. I have helped thousands of people in the LGBTQ+ community manage their depression as the Director of Psychiatry at the Los Angeles LGBT Center. I also have a wealth of experience treating patients with all forms of depression, including those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD).
TRD is often defined as an inadequate response to two or more antidepressants (of adequate dose and duration) in the current depressive episode, which is why many diagnosed with this form of depression follow treatments without relief.4
2. What unique challenges do you see members of the LGBTQ+ community face in terms of experiencing and managing depression?
I find that members of the LGBTQ+ community tend to feel more isolated than gay, straight people. Many have been rejected by family members and ostracized by society. I also think this is compounded by the fact that many gay men have been lost to the AIDS epidemic, and surviving gay men of a certain age have lost many partners and friends.
Additionally, I believe there are differences in the trauma that LGBTQ+ people experience, such as intimate partner violence, harassment, and discrimination. There are also health disparities in physical health, where LGBTQ+ people in some subsets have higher rates of heart disease, cancer and shorter life spans.5
3. What roles do community resources and support networks play in the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community, and how can members talk to their doctors about finding resources?
I believe culturally competent resources are vital for the LGBTQ+ community to receive the health care they need. Many LGBTQ+ people, especially transgender people, have had terrible experiences with health care and resist going to the doctor because of it. A welcoming environment goes a long way in changing that and restoring trust. Also, research repeatedly shows that all LGBTQ+ communities feel more comfortable with culturally competent providers and centers.
I work at the LA LGBT Center, which is the largest LGBT center in the world. The LA LGBT Center offers LGBTQ+ patients the help and resources they need to manage their depression. Although not everyone lives in a city where there are physical centers to go to, there are many online resources available such as DepressionLooksLikeMe.comwhich hosts mental health resources tailored to the LGBTQ+ community. This includes health care directories that make it easy to find a provider, including the nearest LGBTQ+-friendly health professionals or community centers, as well as live and ongoing support that can connect people with trained counselors.
4. How do you approach mental health discussions with LGBTQ+ patients?
In my practice, I approach these conversations with my LGBTQ+ patients as I would with any patient. I begin by discussing what depression can be like, as there are many misconceptions. Depression is not a mood or a choice, and it is not something that one can escape from. It is a serious mental illness that can happen to anyone at any age and to people of any gender, sexuality, race, ethnicity, socio-economic status or religious background. A lot of people think it’s just about being ‘sad’. In fact, it can include feelings of numbness and disconnection with a lack of joy, fatigue and brain fog. It often affects appetite and sleep. It can be triggered by life stressors or seemingly out of nowhere. I believe that normalizing the conversation around mental health and erasing the stigma often associated with it can help people feel less alone in their struggle.
When considering treatment options for my patients living with depression, I like to understand my patients’ goals so I can help them achieve them while managing their depression.
5. What advice would you give to LGBTQ+ people who struggle with depression but may not feel comfortable seeking help?
You are seen, heard, you are not alone and help is only a phone call or text away. Many people, including myself, are here to help you overcome depression and live your best life. We care about you and want the best for you, but we can’t help if you don’t reach out. Therefore, it is very important to take this first step in seeking help.
6. Where are some additional resources that people living with depression in the LGBTQ+ community can find care and help?
This post was sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.
References
- National Institute of Mental Health. Major depression. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression#part_2563
- Mental Health America. Depression. Accessed November 1, 2024.
- Mental Health America. LGBTQ+ Communities and Mental Health. Accessed November 1, 2024.
- Organization for Health Research and Quality. Defining treatment-resistant depression in the Medicare population. ads/id105TA.pdf. Posted on February 9, 2018.
- Health.com. 7 Major Health Disparities Affecting the LGBTQ+ Community Accessed November 1, 2024. https://www.health.com/mind-body/lgbtq-health-disparities#:~:text=People%20in%20the%20LGBTQ%2B%20community%20face%20significant%20health%20disparities%20that,use%2 %20and%20mental%20health%20 disorders
