5 Ways to Support LGBTQ+ Mental Health for Pride Month

Sage Tippie • June 3, 2024

June marks Pride Month, a month-long celebration and recognition of the LGBTQ+ community and their history. In honor of pride month, below are five ways that we can support LGBTQ+ individuals' mental health year round. 


5 Ways to Support LGBTQ+ Mental Health


LGBTQ+ individuals make up a large portion of our population, with
7.6 percent of Americans in 2024 identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or another sexual orientation beyond heterosexual. According to the American Psychiatric Association, LGBTQ+ individuals are more than twice as likely as heterosexual men and women to have a mental health disorder in their lifetime. This makes it evermore important that our community is informed on ways in which to support this population. 


1.Get informed on LGBTQ+ challenges and issues


The LGBTQ+ population faces a unique set of challenges due to societal discrimination and barriers to gender-affirming care. Discriminating behaviors can happen anywhere from the workplace to medical settings, with
more than 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults reporting some form of discrimination in the past year. Understanding and empathizing with the fear, pain, and social distress that can arise from discrimination allows us to better connect with and support the LGBTQ+ population. 


2. Respect Their Identity 


According to
a recent study, 1 in 20 Americans under 30 identify as transgender or nonbinary. Gender identity is fluid, meaning it can change often, even from day to day. This is especially common for adolescents and young adults as they begin to better understand themselves and their identities as they grow older. In order to support LGBTQ+ mental health, it's important for us to respect and affirm identities through proper pronoun usage. This is especially important as mental health and medical practitioners to create a safe, comfortable environment where clients and patients feel respected and heard. Thrive Wellness is a gender-affirming practice, as we believe respecting transgender and nonbinary identities is not only a human right, but leads to better health outcomes for all. 


3. Check In 


If you know someone in the LGBTQ+ community, make sure to check in on their emotional wellbeing. Just asking someone how they are can make a huge impact in the way they feel supported and cared for. Take time to compassionately listen to ensure that they feel heard and safe when sharing. When someone is struggling, opening up to a friend, family member, or peer can be the first step in attaining essential and life-saving mental health care.


4. Identify and Correct Your Biases


Everyone holds personal biases based on their individual life experiences, but it’s important for us to work to identify and correct any harmful biases. Supporting the LGBTQ+ community and their mental health means eliminating preconceived notions and stereotypes that harm these individuals. Stereotypes and biases only enforce prejudice and discrimination. Educating oneself on LGBTQ+ identity, history, and struggles can help us to better understand members of this group as the unique individuals they are. Find resources for better allyship
here or learn more about LGBTQ+ people and how to support them on PFLAG.


5. Make Mental Health Resources Available and Known


Due to the fact that LGBTQ+ individuals are more vulnerable to discrimination and more likely to experience mental health conditions, it is critical that they are aware of essential mental health resources. Having a therapist that specializes in working with the LGBTQ+ community can be helpful for those struggling with their mental health. Resources in place for LGBTQ+ individuals in Northern Nevada are
Our Center  and Spectrum Northern Nevada. Other resources for LGBTQ+ mental health include The LGBT National Help Center, The Trevor Project, GLAAD, The Trans Lifeline, and more. 


Thrive Wellness is proud to support the LGBTQ+ community of Northern Nevada and provide them mental health care. Get educated, be respectful and kind, and show support for our LGBTQ+ community not only this June, but year round! Happy Pride!

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December 2, 2025
Like the fir tree, a symbol of endurance rooted in hope, our Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR) approach reflects the strength that grows when families face challenges together. At our new residential center “The Greenhouse”, FIR is more than a treatment model, it’s a philosophy of healing that places families at the heart of recovery for adolescents and young adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). We believe lasting healing doesn’t happen in isolation; it’s built with the support of families through perseverance, hope, and compassionate care. What Is Family Inclusive Recovery (FIR)? Family Intensive Recovery (FIR) is a specialized and immersive approach that actively engages caregivers as central agents in their child’s healing process. Rather than seeing families as contributors to a problem, we view them as essential partners in recovery. Drawing from two evidence-based frameworks, Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE) and Family-Based Treatment (FBT), FIR helps families cultivate resilience, confidence, and connection throughout the journey to recovery. Grounded in SPACE and FBT Through the SPACE model, parents learn how to recognize and reduce well-intentioned but unhelpful behaviors known as accommodations that can reinforce anxiety and OCD symptoms. By shifting from rescuing to supporting and challenging, parents develop the confidence to guide their child through discomfort, helping them build distress tolerance and self-trust. Simultaneously, Family-Based Treatment (FBT) empowers families to take an active, compassionate role in their child’s nutritional and emotional recovery. Parents learn how to support weight and nutritional restoration, disrupt the eating disorder’s patterns, and reestablish boundaries that promote health and growing autonomy. Together, these approaches strengthen both the individual and family system, allowing recovery to take root within an environment of empathy and optimism. From Blame to Collaboration A cornerstone of the FIR model is removing blame. At Thrive, parents are not viewed as the cause of their child’s struggles, but rather as key partners in recovery. Treatment focuses on joining forces to create a safe, supportive environment where: Families learn to sit with their child's discomfort alongside them without rushing to fix or control it. Parents practice compassionate firmness, setting boundaries grounded in care and safety. Teens and caregivers rebuild trust through open, honest communication. This collaborative framework helps families reestablish a sense of connection and confidence, fostering long-term resilience and open communication that extends beyond the treatment setting. Why Family Matters in Recovery Recovery from eating disorders, OCD, or anxiety isn’t a one-person job, it requires integrated care including the family. When families learn to navigate challenges together, they can model emotional regulation, reinforce healthy boundaries, and create conditions for sustained recovery. Through FIR, we aim to strengthen attachment bonds, reshape family interactions, and empower every member of the family to grow. The result is not only symptom reduction but also a deeper sense of unity, hope, and shared endurance, just like the steadfast fir tree that stands resilient through every season. Moving Toward Hope Family Inclusive Recovery invites caregivers and loved ones to become active participants in change. It’s a journey of learning, letting go, and leaning into love and acceptance. Together, families and clinicians can cultivate the courage in clients to face uncertainty, and in doing so, help them discover that recovery is not just possible, but enduring. If you’d like to learn more about Family Intensive Recovery at The Greenhouse or how we support families in eating disorder and OCD treatment, reach out to our team today.
November 14, 2025
The Greenhouse at Thrive Wellness A New Chapter of Hope and Healing in Nevada On Friday, November 14 , we gathered with our partners at Molina Healthcare to share an important moment for our community. Together, we celebrated Molina’s generous $50,000 grant , an investment that is helping bring The Greenhouse to life. Their support is not only a financial contribution—it’s a statement of belief in the young people and families of Nevada who deserve access to compassionate, evidence-based mental healthcare close to home. This gathering marked the beginning of something we’ve dreamed about for years: a place designed specifically for adolescents and emerging adults to receive the care, connection, and support they need during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Something New Is Growing In early 2026 , Thrive Wellness will open The Greenhouse , Nevada’s first residential treatment center devoted to adolescents and emerging adults navigating eating disorders, anxiety, and OCD . For too long, families have faced a heartbreaking dilemma—send their child far from home for treatment or go without the specialized care they need. The Greenhouse is our answer to that gap. It will be a place where young people can settle into an environment built for healing, where they are understood, supported, and surrounded by a team that believes in their capacity to recover. The Greenhouse represents a natural extension of our mission. It’s a living expression of our belief that recovery is possible—and that with the right support, families can find their footing again. 
November 11, 2025
Are you looking for a meaningful way to give back this holiday season? Thrive Wellness is excited to continue our 6th Annual Giving Tree Program in collaboration with Perenn Bakery this winter. This year, Thrive Wellness Reno and Perenn Bakery are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northern Nevada. The organization supports families with children receiving treatment at area hospitals, providing comfort, hope, and a home-away-from-home during challenging times. Ronald McDonald House Charities offers essential services, removes barriers, strengthens families, and promotes healing when children need healthcare the most. How It Works Simply take one (or a few) tags from the Giving Tree, each listing an item you can purchase and donate for residents of the Ronald McDonald House. Then, drop off your item(s) at one of our designated donation locations by Friday, December 19. Items Needed: Restaurant gift cards Walmart or Target gift cards Games, puzzles, and coloring books Toys (Barbie, Hot Wheels, Lego sets, craft sets, magnet blocks, baby dolls, action figures, journals, infant toys, etc.) Children's books (picture, chapter, and graphic novels) Toiletry sets (for adults) Lotion/self-care gift sets (for adults) Sweatshirts/hoodies (adults, XS-XXL) Scarves, gloves, fuzzy socks, pajamas (all sizes) Infant diapers, onesies, and baby bottles Bulk individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, chips, etc.) Please ensure all donations are new, in original packaging, and unwrapped. Donation Drop-Off Locations Please deliver donations by Friday, December 19, to one of the following sites: Thrive Wellness 201 W Liberty St., Suite 201, Reno, NV 89501 Perenn Grocery 7600 Rancharrah Pkwy, Suite 130, Reno, NV 89511 The first 50 people to return their donations will receive a complimentary ornament gift!  Why We Give Back Through our Giving Tree program, we’re honoring one of our core values at Thrive Wellness: staying rooted in community. This annual tradition allows us to give back to those who need support most during the holiday season. We invite you to join us by taking a tag at any Thrive or Perenn location and helping spread kindness throughout our community. There’s no better way to embrace the holiday spirit than by supporting local families with thoughtful, heartfelt donations. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and continued support. Thank you for helping us make a difference!
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