LGBT+ History Month: The Relationship with Mental Health
Posted on 3rd February 2022
February is national LGBT+ history month and as mental health problems are more common in people who identify as LGBT+, we want to shed a light.
Causes
It's important to note that identifying as LGBT+ doesn't cause mental health issues in itself, but some of the things they may experience can factor in to poor mental health, such as:
Increased likelihood of being a victim of hate crime
Discrimination
Bullying
Social isolation
Body dysmorphia
Rejection
Family conflict
Lack of support
The Numbers
Over the last year, out of LGBT+ respondents:
Half experienced depression
3/5 experienced anxiety
Of those who are transgender, half thought about ending their own life
Of those ages 18-25, 1/8 attempted suicide
1/6 said they drank alcohol almost every day in the last year
The Rainbow Lining
But sometimes embracing your LGBT+ identity can have a positive impact on your wellbeing, you may experience:
Increased confidence
A sense of community
Freedom of self-expression
Increased resilience
Specialist support is also availiable.
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