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Mental Health of LGBT Service Members and Veterans

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Veteran and Military Mental Health

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Abstract

In military and veteran communities, about 5% of individuals are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, with an estimated one million veterans and 75,000 actively serving personnel identifying as LGBT. Women appear to be over-represented in this population with servicewomen and female veterans being twice as likely to identify as lesbian or bisexual than their civilian counterparts. Younger Service members (under age 35) are more likely to identify as LGB than older members (aged 35 and older). Cultural, religious, and political messaging, as well as resulting local, state, and federal policies regarding this population have been found to impact LGBT individuals’ self-conceptualization, mental wellbeing, physical health, and a number of other aspects of life satisfaction. As a result of policy changes over the years, more and more Service members and veterans will seek care for issues related to LGBT health, requiring clinicians practicing within the military and veteran health systems to recognize the issues and to acquire the knowledge of the treatments required to care for these individuals. This care can include better awareness of health disparities and preventive screens, more inclusive sexual health assessments and mental health care to address sequelae of stress stigma and discrimination as well as gender affirmation therapy for transgender Service members and veterans. This awareness should also include sensitivity to the need of older LGBT veterans who may have served under restrictive policies and who are fearful of disclosure, even in health care. This chapter informs healthcare professionals awareness of the historical factors at play in military and veteran LGBT patients’ clinical presentation, as well as the uniquely influential role they play in providing LGBT-affirming healthcare.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nellis Air Force Base, Las Vegas, NV, USA

    Kathleen A. McNamara

  2. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Health Program, Veterans Health Administration, Washington, DC, USA

    Jillian C. Shipherd

  3. National Center for PTSD, VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA, USA

    Jillian C. Shipherd

  4. Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    Jillian C. Shipherd

  5. Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Terry Adirim

Authors
  1. Kathleen A. McNamara
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  2. Jillian C. Shipherd
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  3. Terry Adirim
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Clin. Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Uniformed Services University of the Hea, Bethseda, MD, USA

    Christopher H. Warner

  2. Professor of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA

    Carl A. Castro

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Disclaimer: The view(s) expressed herein are those of the authors and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Defense, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or the U.S. Government.

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McNamara, K.A., Shipherd, J.C., Adirim, T. (2023). Mental Health of LGBT Service Members and Veterans. In: Warner, C.H., Castro, C.A. (eds) Veteran and Military Mental Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18009-5_20

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-18009-5_20

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