June is Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ+) Pride Month – a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community and recognize the impact that LGBTQ+ people have had on history and still have today.
Everyone has a sexual orientation and gender identity. Sexual orientation is based upon whom a person is attracted to – physically or romantically. Gender identity is defined as the internal sense of being male, female, both or neither, which is separate from a person’s biological sex. It’s important to know that identifying as LGBTQ+ is NOT a mental illness or disorder.
So why talk about mental health during LGBTQ+ Pride Month?
Like non-LGBTQ+ individuals, many people in the LGBTQ+ community struggle with mental health issues. There are also some unique stressors and biases in our culture that compound mental health symptoms and diagnoses for LGBQ+ individuals. The bisexual and transgender communities have the highest rates of mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ population. Younger LGBTQ+ individuals report the most mental health concerns of all age groups. For example: LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than teens who don’t identify as LGBTQ+, and LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and over four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to non-LGBTQ+ youth.
The good news is that most LGBTQ+ individuals can thrive in the face of adversity – with the help of supportive families, communities and peers. One study found that LGBTQ+ people used mental health services at 2.5 times higher rates than their noon-LGBTQ+ counterparts. However, they’re also at greater risk of experiencing shame, fear, discrimination, and adverse and traumatic events.
On the down side, many who identify as LGBTQ+ are part of a second – and sometimes third or more – community that’s marginalized. Examples of these groups are Black, indigenous or people of color, people with a physical disability, people practicing a religion different from their neighbors, and people with low socioeconomic status. These individuals have complex experiences than cannot be easily addressed in one area of their life.
Did you know … ?
According to Mental Health America:
- Among U.S. adults, 4.5% identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
- Of those, over 39% reported experiencing mental illness in the past year.
- That’s nearly 5.8 million people – more than the entire population of Kentucky.
- Forty-eight percent of transgender adults report having considered suicide in the past year, compared to 4% of the overall U.S. population.
- In a survey of LGBTQ+ individuals, more than half of all respondents reported having encountered providers denying care, using harsh language, or blaming the patient’s sexual orientation or gender identity as the cause of an illness.
- Twenty-two percent of transgender individuals say they’ve avoided doctors or healthcare for fear of discrimination.
LGBTQ+ Communities and Mental Health Challenges
Research has shown that people who identify as LGBTQ+ face disproportionately higher rates of mental health issues compared to their cisgender and heterosexual counterparts.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), LGBTQ+ individuals are more than twice as likely to develop a mental health condition, such as depression or anxiety, than others. Factors such as discrimination, social stigma, family rejection and a lack of access to quality mental healthcare can all contribute to the onset of mental health concerns.
The Importance of Celebrating Pride Month for Mental Health
Given the significant mental health challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community, the celebration of Pride Month takes on even greater importance. Pride Month provides a platform to raise awareness, foster acceptance and create a sense of community and belonging – all of which can positively affect mental health.
Studies show that LGBTQ+ individuals who have a strong social support network and feel a sense of community are less likely to experience mental health issues. Pride Month observances can offer a safe, affirming space for LGBTQ+ individuals to connect, share their experiences and feel empowered.
Learn more online.
Check out these links for more information:
- Listen to our previous podcast episode on Pride Month and how to create truly equitable and inclusive healthcare for LGBTQ+ patients and their families.
- Find helpful support and resources at TheTrevorProject.org and pflag.org/get-support.
- Check out this informative podcast episode from Riverside Healthcare: LGBTQ+ Mental Health Matters: Allies in Action.
Discover plenty of helpful support from Memorial Health.