LGBTQIA+ people are a sizable minority in New Mexico and experience behavioral health concerns at rates higher than the general population as well as multiple barriers to accessing care and services. Historical factors lead this population to have low levels of trust in medical and behavioral health providers and in first responders and law enforcement personnel, which can further complicate efforts to provide care and services.
This training will present data about LGBTQIA+ people in New Mexico, including what we know about the size and diversity of this community. We will share information about the health disparities experienced by the community and their causes. We will explore steps that can be taken to increase access and quality of care for LGBTQIA+ people in behavioral health services, including the new 988 Behavioral Health Crisis Line and ways first responders and law enforcement personnel can work effectively with this population.
