Supporting the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network

Even before the pandemic, a national shortage of mental health providers, the high price of care, and a lack of insurance coverage for mental health services were already significant barriers to critical mental health services for too many Americans. 

The pandemic pushed an already strained and inequitable mental health system into crisis. Transgender people are among those most vulnerable to this crisis. Due to the compounding impacts of elevated levels of poverty, stigma, harassment, lack of legal protection, discrimination, violence, lack of healthcare coverage, and systemic racism, no community is more gravely affected by the barriers to affordable and affirming mental health services than transgender people of color. (HRC) In fact, transgender individuals are nearly four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a mental health condition (NAMI), and have more barriers to accessing services. 

Please watch this video featuring Founder and Executive Director Erica Woodland as he shares with us the vital work that the National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network (NQTTCN) is doing to increase access to mental health support for queer and trans people of color—delivered by queer and trans therapists of color. 

In the last year, all of us, through Together Rising, have invested $20,000 in NQTTCN’s Mental Health Fund. With our investment, queer and trans people of color who might not have received critical mental health support otherwise due to inability to pay or other barriers are now receiving that very support from their own community—from queer and trans therapists of color. 

Together Rising is proud to support Erica and NQTTCN’s work and to show up for the queer and trans community this Pride month—and always.

Sources: 

[HRC: Understanding the Transgender Community]

[NAMI: Identity and Cultural Dimensions: LGBQTI]