Understanding Mental Health in the LGBTQIA+ Community
Happy June! With June being pride month, it is the perfect time to take a deep dive into the topic of mental health in the LGBTQIA+ community. Mental health is, of course, a crucial aspect of overall well-being, and it is particularly significant for individuals in this group. The LGBTQIA+ community unfortunately often faces unique challenges and stressors that can have significant impacts on their mental health. It is more important than ever to understand these challenges and be able to provide tailored support in order to promote better mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ individuals, as well as greater understanding and acceptance in society overall.
The Challenges Faced by the LGBTQIA+ Community
LGBTQIA+ individuals may encounter a range of stressors that can negatively affect their mental health. These include:
Discrimination and Stigma: Experiencing discrimination in various settings can contribute to feelings of anxiety, depression, and isolation. At work, discrimination of LGBTQIA+ employees by coworkers or managers can lead to hostile work environments. Health care practices and mental health services that are not inclusive, affirming and culturally competent can lead to worse outcomes of care. And in social settings, discrimination and stigma can lead to poor support systems. All of these situations can contribute to feelings of depression, anxiety, and isolation, among others.
Rejection from Family or Friends: Coming out can be a difficult process, and the fear of rejection from loved ones can lead to significant emotional distress. LGBTQIA+ youth who have been rejected by family are more likely to become homeless, and adults who have friends and family that do not accept who they are can lose important social support networks, causing feelings of loneliness and potentially leading to isolation.
Internalized Homophobia or Transphobia: Internalizing negative societal attitudes can result in self-doubt and low self-esteem, exacerbating mental health issues. Those who try to live in a manner that does match who they authentically are can experience high levels of distress, guilt, or shame. Additionally, those who have internalized homophobia or transphobia may discriminate and stigmatize other LGBTQIA+ people, leading to the issues discussed above.
Limited Access to Affirmative Healthcare: Finding healthcare providers who are knowledgeable and supportive of LGBTQIA+ issues can be challenging, leading to inadequate physical and mental health support. This could be especially harmful for those in the trans community, who may require medically necessary gender affirming care, but are unable to access it, or are actively denied treatment.
Why Affirmative Mental Health Care Matters
Affirmative mental health care is essential for supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals. This approach involves creating a safe and welcoming environment where individuals feel validated and understood. Key components include:
Culturally Competent Providers: Mental health professionals should be trained to understand the specific needs and experiences of the LGBTQIA+ community. Just as providers are expected to, at the very least, understand that factors like gender, race, culture, and socioeconomic status can directly impact people’s lived experiences and by extension, their mental health, there must be acknowledgement of how people’s sexual and gender identities can do the same.
Inclusive and Affirmative Practices: Using inclusive language and practices that affirm individuals' identities can help build trust and rapport. For example, demographic and other forms filled out by clients should not limit clients to choosing between only male or female as their gender, or should allow client to simply fill in their own response. Providers should ensure they are using appropriate pronouns for clients, as well as correct names (no deadnaming, please!)
Tailored Interventions: Developing interventions that specifically address the unique stressors faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals can lead to more effective outcomes. Some common types of therapies have been specifically studied with this population and found to work particularly well; these include CBT, Mindfulness-based stress reduction, and Trauma-Informed Care. Affirmative Therapy is a form of therapy tailor-made for use with LGBTQIA+ individuals, but it can still be somewhat difficult to find providers utilizing this method.
Strategies for Supporting Mental Health
There are several ways allies, including mental health professionals, can help support the mental health of LGBTQIA+ individuals:
Building Strong Support Networks: Encouraging and helping to foster connections with supportive friends, family, and community groups can provide a sense of belonging and acceptance. This can be especially important for those who have been rejected by family or friends after coming out, or who feel isolated in general. Many group exist, both nationwide and in many cities, that focus on helping LGBTQIA+ individuals find support and connections.
Promoting Self-Care: Encouraging self-care activities that promote mental well-being, such as mindfulness, exercise, and creative expression, can help individuals manage stress. Self-care can also include trying to make sure one’s basic needs are met, such as getting enough sleep, eating and staying hydrated, and staying away from illicit substances. While self-care is not a magic cure-all for facing discrimination and stigma, and sometimes even the basics may be difficult to obtain, it is still important to have as solid of a foundation as possible from which to address mental health struggles, as well as systemic concerns.
Advocating for Rights and Acceptance: Supporting policies and initiatives that promote equality and acceptance can help reduce discrimination and improve mental health outcomes. Those who are not a part of the LGBTQIA+ community are in a unique position to use their privilege to fight the inequalities faced by the group.
Accessing LGBTQIA+ Affirmative Resources: Such resources can provide a voice for LGBTQIA+ people to share their experiences, allowing those not in the community to learn directly from them. They can also be utilized by health care professionals and mental health providers to link clients to needed resources and supports.
Understanding and addressing the unique mental health challenges faced by the LGBTQIA+ community is essential for fostering a more inclusive and supportive society. By providing affirmative care and promoting acceptance, we can help ensure that all individuals have the opportunity to thrive and lead fulfilling lives.