The Importance of Mental Health For The LGBTQ+ Community

As we near the end of June, it’s important to remember to keep up our support for the LGBTQ+ community and to continue the support we may have shown during Pride Month, even without reminders to donate or Pride Month infographics being spread on social media. One way to do this is to recognize the struggles that those who identify as LGBTQ+ face and how that affects their mental health. This includes discrimination based on how one identifies, which can be based on inaccurate and harmful stereotypes. But before I provide resources and tips for coping for members of the LGBTQ+ community, I would like to emphasize how important it is to be a good ally. Although I am not a part of the LGBTQ+ community, I try to make an effort to support my friends and others who are a part of the community. To do this, you should show your support all year long and do your own research in order to make sure you aren’t placing a burden on LGBTQ+ people. This is because coming out can be traumatic, and most, if not all, information about what it means to be LGBTQ+ can be found with just a quick Google search. There are other ways to be a good ally, but the last one I will cover is to use your privilege to speak up. Be careful not to speak over members of the LGBTQ+ community; instead, correct others who perpetuate harmful stereotypes or make offensive jokes in order to change the system.

Prior to coming out to those near and dear to you, it’s crucial to do as much as you can to focus on your mental health because your personal health matters before anyone else’s does. First off, surround yourself with those who will understand you and validate your experiences. You shouldn’t tolerate prejudice from friends and family even if you’re super close to them. While people’s minds can change over time, do not put yourself in a place where you can’t express yourself and how you truly feel. Once you’re ready to come out, try to pick good, or at the least, a bit more ideal timing. It doesn’t have to be this huge event; however, with bad timing, it might be harder to gain support. There are numerous support hotlines such as The Trevor Project: (866–488–7386); The Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender National Hotline: (888–843–4564); The GLBT National Youth Talkline: (800–246–7743); Trans Lifeline: (877–565–8860); The True Colors United: (212–461–4401); and Pride Institute: (800–547–7433) that you can reach out to in order to get advice and gain support before telling family and friends. When you tell family and friends, understand that it may take time for them to fully accept you. While it’s not your job to educate them on every aspect of the LGBTQ+ community, you should educate them on what you identify as, such as by informing them of your pronouns.

To reiterate, your mental health is incredibly important. If the people in your life don’t understand your sexuality and/or sexual orientation, it’s not your fault. The hotlines that I listed above provide resources and direct support if you need it. Still, it’s vital that you surround yourself with people that support you. You shouldn’t go through it alone.

I find that those who don’t support the LGBTQ+ community haven’t been properly educated on what it means to identify as such and therefore continue to be discriminatory and prejudicial toward them. Education and its influence on you can start with what you learn as a child, as young as elementary school. Today, fortunately, more and more picture books, as well as children’s stories, include LGBTQ+ protagonists and plots.

As children’s brains begin to develop, the books they read begin to shape their world and perspectives. Educating them with something as simple as picture books helps to prevent internalized or externalized homophobia, transphobia, etc. down the line.

Similarly, The Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Educators Network, or GLSEN, was founded by a group of educators in order to help create environments to educate children on those a part of the LGBTQ+ community. On their website, there are educator resources, such as lesson plans and an inclusive curriculum, in order to ensure that people are educated and are more supportive of LGBTQ+ individuals.

Even if you aren’t a part of the LBGTQ+ community, education is very important, and you can never be too old to learn more.

Destigmatizing mental health and LGBTQ+ mental health is not just a goal for right now, but for every day. Continuing to become comfortable with being uncomfortable is a step in the right direction for supporting others. And if you are LGBTQ+, knowing that your feelings come first and that your identity is valid is a step in the right direction as well.