LGBTQ+ Mental Health Resources

MKE LGBT Community Center

Since 1998, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center has been a home to the LGBT population of metro Milwaukee, providing culturally sensitive and competent educational, social, and health and wellness services that meet the needs of LGBT youth, adults, and their allies.

Youth Guide  (A website of the National Youth Advocacy Coalition)

The National Youth Advocacy Coalition (NYAC) is a social justice organization that advocates for and with young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning (LGBTQ) to end discrimination against these youth and to ensure their physical and emotional well-being.

LGBTQ+ Crisis Hotlines
 

• SAMHSA National Helpline: 24/7 information services for addiction, crisis, mental health, disaster response, and treatment referral. Call 1-800-662-4357, or send your zip code in a text message to 435748.
   
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 24/7 suicide and crisis lifeline for mental health-related distress or for those concerned about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988 / chat at 988lifeline.org / or visit the website.
   
• Call Blackline: Counseling, support, and resources for Black LGBTQ+ individuals. Call 800-604-5841.
   
• LGBTQ National Hotline: Monday-Friday 1 pm- 9 pm PST and Saturday 9 am-2 pm PST. A hotline to talk about issues relating to gender, sexuality, and mental health. Call 1-888-843-4564.
   
• Trans Lifeline: 24/7 hotline support for transgender individuals in crisis or seeking support. Call 877-565-8860 in the U.S. or call 1-877-330-6366 in Canada.
   
• National Runaway Safeline: 24/7 hotline for youth and young adults thinking of running away from home, friends who have run away, or a runaway who wants to return home. Call 1-800-RUNAWAY.
   
• Crisis Line for Racial Equity Support: Monday to Friday from 10 am-7 pm PST. Support is available for BIPOC people who are dealing with racism, violence, or immigration struggles. Call 503-575-3764.
   
• National Domestic Violence Hotline: 24/7 domestic violence support. Call 800-799-SAFE (7233), 800-787-3224 TYY / visit the website: https://www.thehotline.org or text “START” to 88788.
   
• SAGE: A 24/7 LGBTQ hotline for older adults who want support. Call 877-360-5428.
   
• GLBT National Help Center: Monday to Friday 4 pm to 12 am, and Saturday 12 pm to 5 pm (ET.) Peer support, hotlines, chatrooms, and local resources are available. Visit www.lgbthotline.org / or call 888-843-4564 for the national helpline.
   
• DeHQ: Helpline for South Asians who identify as LGBTQ and need mental health support. Call 908-367-3374 Sundays and Thursdays 8-10 pm EST or write any time via their contact form.
   
• STEM THRIVE Lifeline: 24/7 text-based hotline for LGBTQ+ individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. Text “oSTEM” to +1 (313) 662-8209.
   

Non-Profit LGBTQ+ Support Organizations and Foundations
 

• The Trevor Project: An organization focused on suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth. They serve youth through a text and a hotline that is staffed by trained counselors, and peers.
   
• National Native Children’s Trauma Center: Trauma-informed training, prevention, and healing resources for Tribal communities, schools, families, youth, child welfare and juvenile justice, and other youth-serving organizations.
   
• Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE): Education, support, and resources, for providers to improve their LGBTQ+ competency.
   
• WeRNative: Health and wellness resources for Native American youth. The organization also provides information on culture, and mental health relationships and publishes an advice column.
   
• White Bison: A grassroots nonprofit organization that facilitates the addiction recovery Wellbriety Movement. You’ll find a directory of mutual-aid support meetings, addiction prevention programs, and Wellbriety Certified Treatment Centers.
   
• GLSEN: A directory of students and educators providing safe, supportive, LGBTQ-inclusive K12 education.
   
• National Center for Transgender Equality: A national social justice advocacy organization dedicated to supporting and advocating for transgender people.
   
• GLAAD: A nonprofit organization dedicated to LGBTQIA+ representation in the media.
   
• Trans Lifeline: A nonprofit dedicated to providing a safe space to support transgender people experiencing mental health and addiction crises.
   
• Harm Reduction International: An organization committed to reducing the impact of drug use policy and promoting the health of people who use drugs.
   
• PFLAG: Advocacy and education for LGBTQ individuals, families, and allies.
   
• Human Rights Campaign: This organization advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and equality.
   
• Black AIDS Institute: HIV prevention and awareness advocacy for Black communities.
   
• True Colors United: Resources for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing homelessness.
   
• Keshet: An organization dedicated to promoting equality for LGBTQ Jewish people.
   
• The Transgender Law Center: Fights for the legal rights of transgender people.
   
• Bisexual Resource Center: An organization that provides support and resources to bisexual, pansexual, and other queer individuals.
   
• Trans Women of Color Collective: An education and awareness organization devoted to healing and justice and tackling issues in their community.
   

LGBTQ+ Treatment Directories
 

• SAMHSA Treatment Locator for Behavioral Health Treatment Services: A behavioral health treatment services locator for mental health concerns and addiction.
   
• Pride Institute: LGBTQ+ inclusive and accepting mental health and addiction programs for individuals aged 18 and older. Call 888-616-5031.
   
• Wellbriety Certified Treatment Centers: Native American competent addiction treatment center directory.
   
• Addiction Technology Transfer Center (ATTC): Provides LGBTQ+ competency training to addiction treatment and mental health professionals.
   
• LGBT HealthLink Network: A directory of experts and professionals focused on reducing healthcare disparities.
   
• National Association of Lesbian and Gay Addiction Professionals: Training, networking, and advocacy information and resources about addiction and related concerns for providers, individuals in recovery, and others supporting LGBTQ people.

LGBTQ+ Support Groups
 

• Wellbriety, hosted by White Bison is a mutual-aid support meeting that provides culturally based healing to Indigenous People across America and Canada. You can attend meetings in person and online. While not LGBTQ+ specific, people who identify that way do attend.​
   
• Recovery Dharma (BIPOC Only group): A Buddhist-inspired (non-12 step) recovery support group that hosts meetings specifically for BIPOC, and BIPOC LGBTQ2S folks.
   
• Call Blackline: Provides peer support for Black LGBTQ+ individuals with a Black femme lens.
   
• Melanin & Mental Health: Monthly events for Black and Lantinx/Hispanic communities.
   
• Gay & Sober: Daily online meetings for LGBT folks in recovery.
   
• Therapy for Black Girls: An online community of Black women seeking to improve their lives and relationships.
   
• You Are Not Alone Network: A virtual community for people struggling with and recovering from mental health issues.
   
• PFLAG: 400+ national LBTQ+ support groups
   
• Gay and Lesbians in AA (GAL-AA): A 12-step recovery support group for gay and lesbian individuals.
   
• QTIBIPOC Healing Space: A Facebook support group for LGBTQ+ people of color.
   
• Trevor Space: Peer support groups for LGBTQ youth.
   
• Trans Youth Online Talk Group: A weekly support group for trans youth.