The pandemic — with its requisite physical distancing, economic strain, and continued racial trauma — only exacerbated the many mental health challenges already facing LGBTQ community, and particularly LGBTQ youth.  

Though the situation has been dire, there's plenty of hope for a better future. To discuss solutions, Mashable Senior Features Writer Rebecca Ruiz hosted a livestream panel with a lineup of experts to discuss the most effective ways to improve LGBTQ mental health care — both during the pandemic and throughout our slow return to normalcy.