Supporting the Health of LGBTQ+ Veterans

Over 1 million LGBTQ+ Veterans served in the military. Their service represents a significant contribution to U.S. health and safety. 

What does research tell us about health and well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals?

Veterans in the LGBTQ+ community often face barriers to receiving the mental and physical care they’ve earned. They report negative health care experiences twice as often as non-LGBTQ+ adults. Fear of disrespect and prejudice from providers, stigma, discrimination, and past assaults may deter them from seeking necessary care.

Sexual minority Veterans also report poorer health-related outcomes overall, including:

• Higher risk of cardiovascular and respiratory conditions
• Increased odds of experiencing mental health conditions, such as major depressive disorder
• Elevated risk of suicidal thoughts

Research indicates that LGBTQ+ Veterans die by suicide at approximately twice the rate of the general population of Veterans using VA services.

LGBTQ+ Veterans can access resources and learn about available care here:

Culturally Competent Care and Support for LGBTQ+ Veterans

Looking for care and support in VA?

• Use the locator tool to find an LGBTQ+ Veteran Care Coordinator (LGBTQ+ VCC) at every facility.
• Explore Make the Connection to hear how other Veterans navigated their journey to living authentically. You’ll also find other useful information and resources for LGBTQ+ Veterans.
• Ask your provider about updating your sexual orientation in your medical record.

Looking for community support?

• Search for LGBTQ+ friendly health care in your area.
• Talk to a peer via chat or national hotlines through the LGBT National Help Center.

Looking for a Training for Health Care Providers?

• Join an upcoming no cost webinar on “Tailored Suicide Risk and Prevention Consideration for LGBTQ+ Veterans.”

Rocky Mountain MIRECC Research

How do LGBTQ+ Veterans compare to non-Veterans when it comes to: 

• Potentially traumatic events (PTEs) 
• Other stressors 
• Mental health challenges 
• Mental health outcomes 

VA researchers compared a national group of Veterans with non-Veterans to find out. Study results highlight unmet Veteran needs and potential interventions to increase care engagement. Read more about the study here.

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The listing of community organizations and healthcare services in this newsletter is provided for informational purposes only. The inclusion does not imply any official partnership, endorsement, or sponsorship by the United States Government or Rocky Mountain MIRECC of any community organizations or their activities.