Lincoln, NE — As debates over gender identity and health care continue in Nebraska, advocates and providers say the mental health toll on LGBTQ+ people is growing — and they are urging the public to ease social pressure and stigma.
“I think its time for us to take a breath and also leave trans people alone. Life is hard enough as it is and I don’t even want to call them trans people, like I’m Ryan,” said Ryan Sallans, who transitioned 21 years ago and has spent the past two decades educating the federal government, universities, corporations and health care systems on orientation and gender development, including how social cognition can assist or create shame because of stigma.
Multiple studies, including one from the National Library of Medicine, say people who are part of the LGBTQ+ population are more likely to have poorer mental health.
Nebraska’s LGBTQ+ community has been vocal about mental health issues, as a current state statute requires 40 hours of gender identity therapy for minors before puberty blockers or cross-sex hormones can be prescribed.
Therapist Britta Tollefsrud, who sees many of these patients, said, “The increase in symptoms reported are not because of their identity, rather they are a direct result of the social pressures and stigmatization leading to pervasive insecurity and fear.”
Sallans encouraged people who are struggling to seek support and avoid isolating themselves. “First off, its always important to reach out to people you trust whether that be your family, friends, peers, or a mental health care provider. The one thing we do not want is for people to socially isolate or to shut down because when you do that yu get caught further into your anxiety and negative self talk,” he said.
Sallans also pointed to results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, saying that in 2015 there was a “market increase” in youth losing hope or experiencing increased sadness, followed by additional increases in 2017 and 2019.
“Then it increased again in 2017 and 2019. We’re seeing this ongoing increase of youth struggling right now because of everything we see in this world, and I believe social media has contributes to that because that impacts your belief system on everything around you. So were seeing an ongoing market increase of all youth either for either just having mental health or suicide ideation. We see that larger in females and also the LGBTQ community,” Sallans said.
Sallans said discomfort can be part of learning and understanding. “That’s where we start seeing the opportunity to have growth and change because you ask yourself ‘why?’ and then when you listen more to peoples stores, and you really look at people in the eyes, and you hear their journey, be open to that,” he said.
He also said more educators and providers are becoming interested and open to learning about gender identity and LGBTQ+ issues. “When I cam out to my psychotherapist in 2005, she said ‘I’ve never worked with a transgender person before but I’m willing to learn.’ And that’s all I needed to hear from her,” Sallans said.
Advocates say access to care has expanded in the state, with dozens of LGBTQ+ affirming care clinics in Nebraska that can be found online.