Top Five Universities with Inclusive Mental Health Programs
Going off to college can be a stressful experience for anyone. LGBTQIA+ students have much of the same worries as heterosexual and cisgender students.
Will I make any friends? What if my roommates are annoying? How do I do taxes? All of these fears are valid, but relatively harmless.
Well, maybe not the taxes part, but you get me.
However, some of the worries held by LGBTQIA+ college students are not so trivial. Many students within the community are unaware of the true culture at their new school. In high school, they would have had a clear understanding of the LGBTQIA+ culture, who they can talk to if they need help, and which teachers they can trust. Now, not only do they go to a new school that is likely outside of their hometown, they must live with strangers, come out to new people, and search for a new community.
These tasks can invoke anxiety, trigger unpleasant memories, or encourage people to isolate themselves. Those who are naturally introverted or shy might have an even harder time with these tasks. That is why it is so important for new LGBTQIA+ students to research the culture of the educational institution they attend. Understanding what resources are easily available to you as an LGBTQIA+ person can decrease your stress levels and enrich your social life.
Additionally, knowing how to utilize inclusive programs and clubs can protect you from developing mental health issues or falling deeper into ones you already have. I know doing such research can be time-consuming. You might not even know where to look. Knowing this, I’ve put together my top five picks for universities with inclusive LGBTQIA+ mental health programs.
OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY (OSU)
OSU has an extensive network of resources for LGBTQIA+ students. There are so many programs, clubs, and initiatives for the community that OSU even needed an entirely different website to showcase all of them. The programs below are less than half of what OSU has to offer.
You can check out the full list of OSU LGBTQIA+ resources here.
In terms of programs that can benefit your mental health, Ohio State has an OSQ Peer Mentor Program that “provides support for LGBTQ undergraduate students through 1-on-1 mentoring from LGBTQ peers and leadership opportunities”. OSU also provides a student health plan that covers the cost of gender-affirming treatments and surgeries such as hormone therapy and select surgical procedures.
There are also transgender mental health counseling services, inclusive health insurance guides, resources for autistic trans people, and more. Add these programs and resources to the fact that OSU has gender-inclusive housing and bathrooms and you can see why Ohio State University made my list.
UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST
UMass established the Stonewall Center in 1985, nearly two decades after the infamous Stonewall Riots in New York City. It was established after university students shined a harsh light on how hostile the campus climate was for LGBTQ+ students.
So, while UMass started as a toxic location for the community, it has taken tremendous steps to shape up.
Today, the UMass Stonewall Center provides allyship training, information, support for victims of harassment and discrimination, advocacy for LGBTQ+ students, and community outreach through Queer-e and local events. The center also showcases LGBTQIA+ Student Groups such as the LGBTQIA+ Grad Student Support Group, The SpACE+, and Out in STEM at UMass.
Non-academic support groups are available as well, such as the many LGBTQIA-Supportive Religious Groups. Related to mental health specifically, the Stonewall Center highlights inclusive hotlines and emergency support channels for those in crisis. UMass also has an LGBTQ+ mentorship program that connects new students with positive role models who give “ongoing support for LGBTQIA+ identity development, personal growth, and academic progress”.
Having a support system is vital to maintaining a healthy mind. Lastly, the university has allied staff and faculty who have received training from the Stonewall Center. Students can also contact faculty members who are openly LGBTQIA+ on the university's Out @ Mass page. Overall, UMass works hard to overcome its past and foster a healthy culture for all students on campus.
RUTGERS UNIVERSITY, NEW JERSEY
Rutgers University's primary contribution to LGBTQIA+ students is The Center for Social Justice Education and LGBT Communities. Through the center, the university provides transgender-specific healthcare options including psychotherapy, hormone replacement therapy (HRT), and gender-affirming surgeries.
The center also provides name-changing resources and LGBTQIA+ events such as The Rainbow Graduation Celebration, which “honors the achievements of Rutgers lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual (LGBTQIA+) identified undergraduate and graduate students.” Inclusive mental health services are also available at Rutgers. The center offers drop-in hours for LGBTQIA+ students who are feeling stressed, depressed, or otherwise concerned about something in their life.
The confidential drop-ins are facilitated by liaisons from the university’s counseling and psychiatric services and do not require an appointment. Confidentiality and guidance are necessary for some LGBTQIA+ students, out of the closet or not, to maintain their mental well-being.
Rutgers offers too many LGBTQIA-related services to list here. You can explore the university’s inclusive housing, workshops, and resources here.
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY, NEW JERSEY
I would hope that one of the most prestigious universities in the world would be forward-thinking enough to provide well-rounded LGBTQIA+ services. My hopes are true! Princeton’s Gender + Sexuality Resource Center is a shining example of inclusivity in education.
The center’s Q’nnections program offers a way for LGBTQIA+ students to:
Create "families” at the beginning of each school year, which meet regularly and foster relationship formation.
Facilitate community building for LGBTQIA individuals across campus in order to create a network of support at all levels (undergraduate student, graduate student, postdoc, faculty, and staff).
Host a social event every month, providing points of contact for families to have fellowship and discuss a particular topic of LGBTQ+ life.
Promote informal family meetings with funding for family excursions.
(https://www.gsrc.princeton.edu/qnnections)
The university center also provides inclusive training programs to educate staff and students on sexuality and gender. As for psychical healthcare, Princeton’s University Health Services (UHS) gives students access to gender-affirming care and provides “sexual and reproductive health counseling for LGBTQA individuals”.
For mental health, the university has a variety of counseling services. These include psychiatric treatment, specialized care, mind-body programs, consultations surrounding issues like imposter syndrome and trauma, and more. Additionally, UHS offers referrals to off-campus “mental health services, including specialized care and treatment for a variety of disorders and special populations.”
As with most colleges on my list, there are way more LGBTQIA+ services that can benefit students’ mental health at Princeton.
SAN DIEGO STATE UNIVERSITY
SDSU has a 5/5 star rating on the Campus Pride Index, a database that tracks and reports the inclusivity of US colleges. The university established a respectable Division of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, which hosts SDSU’s Pride Center. The center showcases on-campus resources and services for LGBTQIA+ students such as gender-inclusive restrooms and student organizations.
The university also hosts SafeZones, a program dedicated to creating a culture that is “welcoming, informative, educational, and safe for all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex, and ally (LGBTQ+) students, faculty, staff, administrators and members of the campus community.”
The SafeZones program was established after a slew of anti-LGBTQ+ incidents continued to occur at SDSU. Much like UMass, San Diego State was not always a safe place for LGBTQIA+ students. Thankfully, in 2007 whole divisions, student groups, and staff members banded together to end campus discrimination by creating SafeZones.
Now, the program provides training facilitated by the counseling and psychiatric services team members, as well as a social justice sector. SDSU also presents mental health services that can support the unique needs of LGBTQIA+ students. For transgender individuals, the university's Student Health Services offers gender-affirming care. The center website goes on to display off-campus local resources for the LGBTQIA+ community. Here are some key players:
Stepping Stones: a recovery center for substance abuse/addictions that primarily serves LGBTQ people.
CHIP: a program improving the health of young gay adults in the San Diego area.
The Center: an organization that works to protect the health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ people through different programs and activities.
Lastly, SDSU has a program called Pride House. This is a peer mentoring program where students can find personalized assistance, discover resources, achieve personal and academic goals, and learn new skills. Pride House gives LGBTQIA+ students a safe space to find community. Surrounding yourself with positive influences and accepting individuals can do wonders for your mental health.
What universities or schools would you put on your list?
Let me know in the comments!
