There are 1.5 million LGB adults age 65 and older in the U.S. For all seniors, aging poses many mental health issues — but for these LGB as well as trans and gender-nonconforming elders, mental health is an even more pressing matter.
Due to a lifetime of discrimination, LGBTQ elders are more likely than their straight cis peers to lack proper community support, adequate health care, and financial security, thus putting them at higher risk for mental health issues, according to a report from SAGE. LGBTQ seniors are at higher risk of being diagnosed with depression and anxiety and experiencing social isolation. Thirty-nine percent of LGBTQ elders have experienced suicidal ideation in their lifetime, and 31 percent have symptoms of depression — two to three times higher than the general older adult population in the U.S. These stats are higher for transgender elders: 48 percent have experienced symptoms of depression and 71 percent reported a history of suicidal ideation.
SAGE combats these unique mental health stressors by offering LGBTQ seniors resources to help them find reliable housing and financial support. They also recently launched HearMe, an app dedicated to connecting seniors with somebody to listen.
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