Mental Health and the LGBTQ Community

By Sammy Amick

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer/Questioning (LGBTQ) community consists of a diverse range of identities within gender and sexual orientation and includes individuals from all different ages, races, religions, nationalities, and socioeconomic status.  The diversity within the LGBTQ community has built a sense of unity, strength, and pride, however, when we look at it from a mental health lens, we see that they face unique challenges.

Although there have been some positive changes and acceptance within society, there continues to be many risk factors among the LGBTQ population. LGBTQ youth have began coming out at a younger age which has led to struggles in relationships and social experiences. Many have experienced rejection which can be difficult to cope with; ranging from their friends, family, school, work, and religious communities. They also face many forms of discrimination including homophobia, transphobia, bullying, stereotyping, abuse, and denial of access (NAMI, 2021). 

With these, LGBTQ adults are more than twice as likely as heterosexual adults to experience a mental health condition and transgender individuals are almost four times as likely as cisgender (biological sex matches gender identity) individuals to experience a mental health condition (NAMI, 2021). These statistics are even more alarming when we look at LGBTQ youth:  72% have reported symptoms of generalized anxiety in the past two weeks, 62% reported symptoms of depression in the past two weeks, and 42% seriously considering suicide in the past year; all higher in transgender individuals. LGBTQ youth are significantly more likely to use illicit drugs compared to their heterosexual peers and have a 120% higher risk of experiencing homelessness (Paley, 2021).

Supportive environments, accepting relationships, and self-care/coping are immensely important for the LGBTQ community and include: finding supportive people, attending local LGBTQ community centers/health centers, seeking out affirming religious communities as well as affirming doctors and therapists, joining or advocating for GSAs (Gender & Sexualities Alliance or Gay-Straight Alliance) in schools, setting boundaries, finding healthy ways to express yourself and find positives in the community, and seeking treatment when struggling with mental health/addiction. 

You can show your love and support to the community by: respecting their names and pronouns, not making assumptions, listening and being open, learning from your mistakes, learning about LGBTQ history and becoming involved in advocacy and events, attending local community centers, and being inclusive.