An Environmental Scan of Ontario’s Mental Health and Addiction Services Exclusive to LGBTQ2S+ Youth During COVID-19

Abstract

Background: LGBTQ2S youth experience mental health disparities and higher rates of substance use when compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers yet also experience more barriers to access to services. The purpose of this environmental scan is to determine the types of mental health and substance use programs and services exclusive to LGBTQ2S youth in Ontario and how these services have changed during the pandemic. Methods: This environmental scan was conducted to identify existing programs and services in Ontario that offered exclusive mental health and addiction services to LGBTQ2S+ individuals aged 16-29, either by offering services to all or subgroups within the population. Results: In total, 113 organizations and 240 programs and services were identified as providing mental health and substance use services exclusively to LGBTQ2S+ youth. Four main themes were identified from the scan, including the distribution of services, types of services, methods of service delivery and program criteria. Adaptations for the COVID pandemic included cancelling in-person services, increasing online and telephone services, and expansion to province-wide from local availability. Conclusions: The findings from this scan highlight the importance of offering services that provide culturally inclusive care for LGBTQ2S+ youth, and these results can also be used by policy makers to inform policies. In particular, there was a lack of culturally-relevant clinical services for youth requiring greater intensity of treatment.