Welcome
LBGTQI+ Peers, Friends, Family and Allies

Welcome to our new page dedicated to the LBGTQI+ community and their allies

We are thrilled to have this platform to connect, support, and uplift one another on our journeys of recovery. Here, you will find recovery resources and community links to organizations that understands and embraces your unique experiences.

Whether you're seeking guidance, sharing your own triumphs, or simply looking for a space where you can be yourself without judgment, CCR and many others are here to support you.

Together, let's build a vibrant and inclusive space where all voices are heard, valued, and celebrated.

RESOURCES

B H S

SUD BROCHURE

SAFE HAVEN INFO

Treatment, Support, and Services

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES (BHS)

Colusa County's dynamic BHS provider offers timely, quality, and professional outpatient treatment services for individuals with substance use disorders (SUDs). They provide a whole-person care approach, including evidence-based groups, individual therapy, case management, medication-assisted treatment, and assistance with entering a residential rehab, as well as many other beneficial programs and mental health services, not listed here.

SAFE HAVEN DROP-IN CENTER

Beyond traditional treatment options, BHS also manages Safe Haven, a peer-supported recovery and wellness drop-in center. Safe Haven is a vital community resource supporting adults from diverse backgrounds, including seniors, vets, lbgtq+, justice-involved individuals, and community members at risk of homelessness or experiencing homelessness, by connecting them with essential services and housing assistance, in addition to featuring a food pantry, free internet access, a clothing closet, and self-serve laundry services. Safe Haven also offers a comprehensive range of person centered, strength-based groups, including life skills training, wellness principles, arts & crafts, self love, and relapse prevention groups.

Visit BHS website to learn more or call them at 530-458-0520, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm.

National Alliance on Mental Illness

NAMI delivers educational and support resources for LGBTQI+ individuals, as well as promotes competency on LGBTQI+ issues for counseling professionals, community organizations and advocates. Website: www.nami.org

(NAMI.org) - The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex (LGBTQI+) community represents a diverse range of identities and expressions of gender and sexual orientation. In addition to these identities, members of the community are diverse in terms of race, religion, ethnicity, nationality and socioeconomic class. This intersectionality — the combined and overlapping aspects of a persons’s identity — brings diversity of thought, perspective, understanding and experience. This complexity is important to understand as a unique and valuable aspect of the LGBTQI+ community that can result in a strong sense of pride and resiliency.

While belonging to the LGBTQI+ community can be a source of strength, it also brings unique challenges. For those who identify as LGBTQI+, it’s important to recognize how your experience of sexual orientation and gender identity relates to your mental health.

For many LGBTQI+ people, socioeconomic and cultural conditions negatively impact mental health conditions. Many in the LGBTQI+ community face discrimination, prejudice, denial of civil and human rights, harassment and family rejection, which can lead to new or worsened symptoms, particularly for those with intersecting racial or socioeconomic identities.

Important Risk Factors Of Adult LGBTQI+ Mental Health

The LGBTQI+ community faces many forms of discrimination, including: labeling, stereotyping, denial of opportunities or access, and verbal, mental and physical abuse. They are one of the most targeted communities by perpetrators of hate crimes in the country. Such discrimination can contribute to a significantly heightened risk for PTSD among individuals in the LGBTQI+ community compared to those who identity as heterosexual and cisgender.

Substance Use
Substance misuse or overuse, which may be used as a coping mechanism or method of self-medication, is a significant concern for members of this community. LGBTQI+ adults are nearly twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a substance use disorder. Transgender individuals are almost four times as likely as cisgender individuals to experience a substance use disorder.

Homelessness
It is estimated that LGBTQI+ young adults have a 120% higher risk of experiencing homelessness — often the result of family rejection or discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation. Many members of the LGBTQI+ community face the added challenge of finding homeless shelters that will accept them, and experience elevated rates of harassment and abuse in these spaces.

Inadequate Mental Health Care
LGBTQI+ people experience discrimination in health care settings including but not limited to lack of cultural competency, harassment and humiliation by providers, and being turned away by hospitals, pharmacists, and doctors. Fear of discrimination can also discourage LGBTQI+ individuals from seeking care. Both circumstances result in LGBTQI+ people not accessing to the mental health care they need and deserve. For example, one study showed that 60% of LGBTQI+ young adults report that there had been a time in the past year when they wanted professional mental health treatment, but were unable to receive it.

Confronting these barriers and mental health symptoms with an LGBTQI+ inclusive mental health provider can lead to better outcomes, and ultimately recovery. | Learn more: www.nami.org

STONEWALL ALLIANCE CENTER

The Stonewall Alliance of Chico celebrates diversity and is actively committed to fostering an environment of mutual respect. Stonewall is committed to providing a safe, fair, and welcoming environment to all and to building a team as diverse as our community where equal opportunities are available to a person without regard to race, color, sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, physical and mental ability, pregnancy or related statuses, national origin, citizenship status, marital status, religion, age, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Any discrimination or harassment based on any of these characteristics will not be tolerated. We know that the more diverse and inclusive we are, the better our work will be and the healthier our community will be.

The Stonewall Alliance Center plays a vital role in educating the general public about sexual orientation and gender identity, and how to create more gender-inclusive spaces and policies.

COUNSELING SERVICES

Stonewall Alliance Center's counselors are aware of the unique barriers that LGBTQ+ people face when accessing services. Stonewall provides an atmosphere that is safe and welcoming for all members of the gender and sexual minority community.

Counseling is provided by Licensed and Pre-Licensed counselors. For more information or to schedule an appointment please contact the counseling program directly at 530.809.2485 or email them at counseling@stonewallchico.org

Learn more: Stonewallchico.com

The Stonewall Alliance Center provides in-depth, specialized LGBTQ+ cultural competency and allyship skill-building and comprehensive training to mental health providers, educators, organizations, businesses and more.

GaL-AA (Gays and Lesbians in Alcoholics Anonymous) was established to serve and have the involvement of lesbians, gay men, and others in Alcoholics Anonymous, regardless of how they choose to identify themselves. In selecting the name, careful consideration was given to a variety of combinations. While the name only directly reflects gays and lesbians, we embrace all LGBT+ members of the AA fellowship. MEETING GUIDE APP

LGBTQ+ RESOURCE | Colusa County Recovery

Our goal is to further NA’s primary purpose by providing an LGBTQ+ voice to, and by fostering and mentoring our fellowship’s (LGBTQ) lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning members’ participation in, SCRSC’s H&I, Public Relations (PI), Phonelines (PL), SBTW, Cruise, Youth, Activities, Website committees services. LEARN MORE

Clean and Sober Nation is a drug and alcohol recovery-support group on Facebook that was founded by Colusa County Recovery in August of 2022. Our group embraces ALL pathways to recovery, including the 12-steps, evidenced-based models, medication assistance, and secular recovery. Our discussion group provides an atmosphere of recovery, support, encouragement and fellowship; and features two unique 24-7 chat rooms and peer-supported recovery meetings. EVERYONE is welcome at Clean and Sober Nation.

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The Dynamic Duo For Anyone Seeking Recovery

Combining Therapy and Support Meetings in Maximizing Recovery Outcomes

(Colusa County Recovery) - Research has found that individuals who participate in both Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and support meetings are more likely to have long-term recovery outcomes. CBT is a form of psychotherapy that helps individuals identify negative thought patterns and behaviors and replace them with positive ones. By addressing both the cognitive and behavioral aspects of addiction, CBT can be an effective tool in helping individuals manage their addiction and maintain sobriety.

Support meetings can provide individuals with a sense of purpose and meaning in recovery. Many support meetings, such as those based on the 12-step model, incorporate spiritual or higher power beliefs that can help individuals develop a greater sense of self-awareness and motivation. However, it's important to recognize that everyone's recovery journey is unique and what works for one person may not work for another.

Some individuals may find the spiritual or higher power aspects of the 12-step model to be helpful in their recovery, while others may feel more comfortable with a secular or non-spiritual approach. That's why it's important to offer individuals a range of options and choices when it comes to support meetings and recovery models. This includes 12-step programs like Alcoholics Anonymous, but also secular models like SMART Recovery and LifeRing.

"Ultimately, the objective of support meetings is to provide individuals with a sense of community and social support, regardless of the model they choose," says Susan Wagenaar, founder of Colusa County Recovery. "Through these meetings, individuals can connect with others who understand their struggles and provide support and encouragement along the way."

"By addressing both the cognitive and behavioral aspects of addiction and providing individuals with a supportive community, individuals can have a better chance of achieving long-term recovery outcomes," reports Wagenaar, who herself overcame a substance use disorder in 2019 with the help of CBT and regular attendance at support meetings.

The California LGBTQ Health & Human Services Network is an LGBTQ-specific program of Health Access, bringing together more than 60 non-profit providers, community centers, and researchers to advocate collectively for state level policies and resources that will advance LGBTQ health. Founded in 2007, the Network provides coordinated leadership about LGBTQ health policy in a proactive, responsive manner that promotes health and well-being as part of the movement for LGBTQ equality, and ensures that there is a distinct LGBTQ voice in health policy decision-making venues. LEARN MORE

Below are additional resources specifically for the LGBTQI+ community

Depression Looks Like Me is a program – sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Company and supported by an alliance of other partners – that aims to educate and empower LGBTQ+ people with depression.
The American Psychological Association (APA)provides educational and support resources on a range of LGBTQ topics.
CenterLink, an international nonprofit organization and association of LGBTQ centers and other LGBTQ organizations serving their local and regional communities, offers a “CenterLink LGBT Community Center Member Directory” where you can find your nearest LGBTQ center.
The LGBT National Help Center offers confidential peer support connections for LGBT youth, adults, and seniors, including phone, text and online chat.
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association's Provider Directory offers a search tool to locate an LGBTQ-inclusive health care provider.
Trans Lifeline is a nonprofit trans community-led organization that offers emotional support to trans people in crisis.
The Trevor Project is a support network for LGBTQ youth providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention, including a 24-hour text line (text “START” to 678678).
SAGE is a national advocacy and services organization serving LGBTQ+ elders; they offer SAGE National LGBT Elder Hotline to connect LGBTQ+ older people with friendly responders who are ready to listen 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in English and Spanish.
Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) provides educational and support resources for LGBTQ individuals, as well as promotes competency on LGBTQ issues for counseling professionals.
The National Center for Transgender Equality offers resources for transgender individuals, including information on the right to access health care.
National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA) is a federation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Asian American, South Asian, Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) organizations.
Asian Pride Project is a nonprofit organization that celebrates the journeys, triumphs and struggles of LGBTQ individuals and Asian and Pacific Islander (API) families and communities through the use of arts — film, video, photography and the written word — as a medium for social justice and advocacy.
GAPIMNY is a nonprofit organization that empowers queer and trans Asian Pacific Islanders.