Mental Health in the LGBTQIA+: A Persistent Concern

Over the last few years, there has been an evident light on the discussion about prioritising mental health. Mental health, although an inclusive construct, seems to be a struggle for many. Homosexuality may have been struck down as a mental disorder from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders by APA in 1973, but the negative perception of society still persists.

LGBTQIA+ have always faced a negative bias and continue to struggle in society despite years of revolting and spreading awareness amongst people all across the globe; this not only impedes their personal and social growth but also severely impacts their mental health. Recent data published by The Trevor Project (2022) reveals that more than 40% of LGBTQIA+ youth considered suicide in the previous year. For transgender youth, the number seems to be even more alarming, with over 50% of them exhibiting suicidal tendencies. Learning this, such prevalence calls for awareness and urgent action to provide and implement relevant interventions and strategies for their well-being.

Read More: Family Acceptance and LGBTQ+ Youth 

Homophobia (an irrational sense of hatred towards individuals perceived or identified as homosexuals), transphobia (negative attitudes and discomfort towards transgender individuals), and intolerance (a general refusal and unwillingness to accept LGBTQIA+ identities) towards this community develop due to the internalisation of negative hetero-affirmative connotations that one repeatedly comes across in various social domains of their lives such as media, culture, educational settings, workplace and more.

These stereotypical and stigmatising remarks pose a crucial component in both developing intolerant disposition in heterosexual individuals as well as developing feelings of shame and guilt in LGBTQIA+. These feelings of guilt and shame prevent them from seeking the help that they need because of the fear of being judged and ill-treated. Such feelings are referred to as internalised homophobia; these have a profound impact on an individual’s self-esteem, which makes them experience feelings of being unlovable. This may lead to the individuals developing stress, anxiety and depression.

Read More: Mental Health of LGBTQIA+: The Challenges and Possible Solutions

To gain acceptance, within and beyond, is truly a struggle for LGBTQIA+ starting from the walls of their own homes with a constant fear of rejection from their parents to being put at a disadvantage because of their sexuality in social spaces. Their journeys have always been filled with hardships and constant challenges. This persistent dilemma puts them in a cycle of conflict between expressing their true self and behaving in socially acceptable ways, exacerbating their mental health.

We as a society must begin to recognise and acknowledge the needs and challenges of these individuals on a deeper level. It shall begin with the identification of the systemic barriers that prevent them from seeking help, such as financial concerns, fear of discrimination, lack of queer affirmative therapists and more. Furthermore, there must be advocacy for introducing inclusive policies for these members to help them feel integrated and heard in their social settings. 

For LGBTQIA+, social validation is the biggest battle of all, and this could be addressed by the creation of LGBTQIA+ affirming spaces, which play a pivotal role in improving their experiences and representation, thereby facilitating the mental health of these individuals. It shall provide them with a space of acceptance and allow them to express themselves freely. A study conducted in 2022 showcased that queer individuals who had at least one supportive adult in their lives had a 40% reduced chance of committing suicide. This shows how social support plays a significant role in these individuals’ well-being and how acceptance and support, which are basic human needs, are rewarding for these people.

Although the statistics paint a bleak picture, progress is being made. Advocacy and acceptance for the rights of LGBTQIA+ have gained significant momentum over the past few years. Several people in power have started recognising their existence and introducing measures to improve their functioning in society. Initiatives like the decriminalisation of Section 377 and the introduction of the Transgenders Persons (Protection of Rights) Act 2019 are evidence of a positive but gradual inclusion of these individuals. Still, the struggle remains, “turtles all the way down,” and a wide and long scope exists for their empowerment. 

Read More: LGBTQ+ Community, issues and prejudices faced by them

Actionable Steps

We as a society must recommit ourselves to building a more accepting and inclusive world for all, regardless of gender or sexuality. Our first plan of action should be introducing an LGBTQIA+ affirmative curriculum in schools because that forms one of the crucial pillars for the development of individuals in a social community. Such curriculum could include the history of the prevalence of the LGBTQIA+ community highlighting their struggles as well as their contributions to society which would help normalise their presence and also foster meaningful discussions about them, followed by increasing the availability of queer affirmative therapists because a lot of queer individuals hesitate to seek professional help because of fears of judgement and discrimination by practitioners.

Hence, there must be the introduction of elaborate training programs for therapists to develop the necessary competencies. Also, challenging legal limitations in various social settings such as workplaces, healthcare units and education centres would help in protecting and expanding the rights of the community.

Lastly, efforts to popularise crisis hotlines and online resources should be made.  Furthermore, we should continue to acknowledge that mental health is not a privilege but rather a right that we all must exercise, and it’s time that this right is justly extended to all, not just awareness but also action.

In addition to these broader societal actionable steps, we must highlight self-help measures for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Building supportive networks and surrounding oneself with social groups that support their identity is one of the primary self-help approaches that one must seek. Another important strategy is to practise self-compassion by recognising one’s worth and validating emotions via engaging in meaningful exercises like daily affirmations and journaling. Also, individuals must strive to block out or limit their exposure to negativity by setting boundaries around media consumption. Thereby, LGBTQIA+ individuals can fortify their mental health and overcome such barriers by making small yet influential steps.