Mental Health in LGBTQIA+ Youth

1. Majority of people in the LGBTQIA+ community have faced bullying at some point in their lives.

A study gathered survey data from nearly 82,000 high school students which suggested that even though majority of the LGBTQIA+ youth hasn’t faced bullying yet, they were more likely to fall as victims of abuse or mistreatment. LGBTQIA+ teens have frequently experienced more severe forms of torment as compared to heterosexual and cisgender individuals.

2.the LGBTQIA+ youth is 1.75 times more likely to experience mental health issues as compared to their other peers.

A study has shown that the LGBTQIA+ youth experiences mental health diagnosis at a higher rate and evince symptoms of anxiety and depression more seemingly than their peers.

Another study suggests that the LGBTQIA+ youth considers suicide nearly three times more than heterosexual individuals, conclusively stating that the LGBTQIA+ youth has a higher rate of suicide actions and thoughts.

3. People tried to convince them to change their sexual orientation.

According to The Trevor Project, two out of every three people from the community reported that someone had tried to convince them to change their sexual orientation.

Conversion or reparative therapy is a callous practice that targets the LGBTQIA+ youth and seeks to change their sexual or gender identities . Such practices have been rejected by medical and mental health organisations for decades but due to continuing discrimination and societal bias against the LGBTQIA+ , people still continue to conduct conversion therapy.

Such habitude is unethical for it is wrong to force someone to change who they are.

4. Family rejection is strongly associated with mental health problems and suicidal thoughts amongst the LGBTQIA+ youth.

LGBTQIA+ youth who perceive strong support bases from their families tend to have a better mental health than those who weren’t supported and this is because many parents struggle for years to adjust after learning a child’s sexual orientation. After experiencing social issues as well as issues with peers, punitive reactions from parents can have a negative impact on the youth.

Steps that can be taken to prevent the issues faced by the LGBTQIA+ youth

For LGBTQIA+ people themselves:

1. Surround yourself with supportive people- be around people who make you feel loved and good about yourself and not shame you for your identity.

2. Seek support- if you’re experiencing anxiety ,stress or sadness that is interfering with your day to day life, reach out to someone you trust. Make an appointment with a mental health professional, if possible. You can also join a mental health or a LGBTQIA+ advocacy group online or anywhere accessible.

3. Remember it has nothing to do with you but with their mindset- society creates stigma about many groups. Other’s reaction to your sexual identity is not your fault and says nothing about the person you are. When people judge you, they’re only reflecting their own mindsets, and not actually judging you.

For helping a friend-

1. Listen and empathise- It is normal to feel emotions like confusion, surprise, etc when finding out about a friend’s sexual identity or emotional health issues. Despite that, provide your friends with a safe space to talk about it and be an active listener, without judging them or giving unsolicited advice. Do not make inappropriate or hurtful comments.

2. Get educated- learn more about mental illnesses and concerns LGBTQIA+ individuals might have. Do not expect them to be your teacher, since it is your responsibility to learn. This will provide to you a better understanding of your friend and how to help them.

How schools can help-

1. Create an LGBTQIA+ organisation- when teachers or other staff members sponsor or serve as an adviser for an LGBTQIA+ student organisations, it shows that you’re serious about reducing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ students by promoting and supporting their well-being.

2. Include LGBTQIA+ topics in the curriculum- by doing so, students can gain knowledge and will get to know what LGBTQIA+ individuals go through and will eventually stop bullying them.

✏️: @anviksha_ranjan & @rishika_arora

🎨: @tarini_puri & @charvie_benz