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Chroma Mental Health Collective: Eliminating LGBTQ+ Mental Health Disparities

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The LGBTQ+ community in Tennessee is currently facing an increasingly hostile social and political environment fueled by digital misinformation and hate-based organizing.

In 2022, Tennessee introduced the highest number of anti-LGBTQ+ laws in the U. S.. Navigating such a political environment has profound mental health impacts that are well-documented in the research as well as in community reports. Finding and accessing care from someone who is affirming and attuned to your individual needs is incredibly difficult due to the lack of dedicated resources for LGBTQ+ mental health care in the region.

This project will help fill this gap. The Chroma Mental Health Collective is a developing organization led by LGBTQ+ mental health professionals with the mission to increase access to affirming and attuned mental health care for all sexual and gender minorities by eliminating barriers and cultivating communities of care.

The goal is to create pathways to mental health support for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community.

This project focuses on developing the foundational infrastructure of its operations, education initiatives, and therapy access programs. By leveraging the power of digital technology and relationships, staff can educate, organize, and create pathways to mental health support for everyone in the LGBTQ+ community, especially those who are most isolated and alone.

Rather than focusing on providing direct services, Chroma hopes to build the capacity of the mental health system as a whole to better meet the needs of the community. The vision is to live in a community where people, no matter who they are or who they love, are joyful, connected, and thriving.

 

Updated November 2022