LGBTQ+ your mental health is so important

Research shows members of the LGBTQ+ community are more prone to suffer from mental health problems in their lifetime in comparison to people who identify as straight/cis.

Problems such as anxiety, depression and stress are just some of the mental health illness some people from the LGBTQ+ community face in their lifetime.

The negative impacts of experiences of discrimination and hate crimes on LGBTQ+ individuals and groups are well established, as studies suggest:

52 per cent of young LGBTQ+ individuals reported self-harming in their lifetime in comparison to 26% of heterosexual young people.

But individuals from ethnic minority communities and living with a disability are more likely to be affected by mental health issues as The Gay Men’s Health Survey (2013) found that three per cent of gay men have attempted to take their own life. But five per cent of black and minority ethnic men tried to take their own life.

There is no definite answer to why this is. However mental health problems linked to the LGBTQ+ community has been caused by:

- homophobia, biphobia or transphobia

- bullying

- discrimination

- rejection  

Any of these points can have a massive impact on your self-esteem and can make you feel like you cannot openly be you and discuss your sexual or gender identity at work, at home, or in the world at large.

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