Author ORCID Identifier
Debra L. Brucker ORCID ID: 0000-0002-3081-5206
Chris Surfus ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2036-172X
Megan Henly ORCID ID: 0000-0003-2035-9806
Abstract
Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s weekly Household Pulse Survey conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic (July 21, 2021 – October 11, 2021), this study examines the prevalence of anxiety, worry, loss of interest and depression, receipt of mental health treatment, and self-reported unmet need for mental health treatment among adults with and without disabilities by lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) status. Controlling for age, educational attainment, employment, health insurance coverage, and race/ethnicity, adults with disabilities, regardless of LGBT status, had statistically significantly increased odds of anxiety, worry, loss of interest and depression, receipt of mental health treatment, and unmet need for mental health treatment compared to adults without disabilities who were not LGBT. Adjusted rates of receipt of mental treatment ranged from a low of eight percent for persons without disabilities who were straight to 27 percent for persons with disabilities who were LGBT. Eight percent of persons without disabilities who were not LGBT reported not getting the mental health treatment they needed, holding all else constant, while 17 to 35 percent of other persons reported unmet need for mental health services. These results highlight the need for expansions of the mental health service delivery system in the U.S. as well as a prioritization of accessibility and inclusiveness practices.
Department
Institute on Disability
Publication Date
2023
Publication Title
Rehabilitation Psychology
Publisher
American Psychological Association
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
10.1037/rep0000511
Recommended Citation
Brucker, D. L., Surfus, C., & Henly, M. (2023, June 8). Mental Health Experiences in 2021 for Adults With Disabilities Who Are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, or Transgender. Rehabilitation Psychology. (Pre-print version).
Rights
©American Psychological Association, 2023. This paper is not the copy of record and may not exactly replicate the authoritative document published in the APA journal. The final article is available at: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/rep0000511.
Comments
This is a preprint of an article published by APA in Rehabilitation Psychology in 2023, the Version of Record is available online: https://doi.org/10.1037/rep0000511