Pride, LGBTQ+, Gender Identity, and Mental Health
June is PRIDE month. Pride is defined as having a positive emotional response or attitude to something with an intimate connection to oneself, due to its perceived value. Gay Pride is a term that the LGBTQ+ community coined to celebrate, recognize, and acknowledge their existence. Gay Pride and Pride month is the promotion of self-affirmation, dignity, equality, and increased visibility of LGBTQ+ people as a social group. Pride was conceived out of the shame others tried inflicting on the gay community. Instead, the LGBTQ+ community came back even harder and stronger. Now repping a rainbow flag as insignia—a bold badge of honor that you WILL acknowledge.
SIXELA SKINCARE prides ourselves on serving the community while focusing on wellness and health (physical, emotional, and mental). While Gay Pride is a wonderful notion, unfortunately it was born out of the hate they received. Subsequently, the LGBTQ+ community advocated for themselves and their rights similar to other marginalized groups have done in the past and continue to do. Some things that these groups tend to have in common, are the huge disparities in mental health issues compared to other groups. This community is underserved in many ways, but mental health largely affects all aspects of an individuals life and therefore must be prioritized.
According to MH International:
4.5% of the U.S. population identify as being apart of the LGBTQ+ community and of those 4.5%, 39.8% of them report having mental illnesses.
Adversity faced within this community causes mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression
Such adversity looks like “ 59% of LGBTQ+ people feel that they have fewer employment opportunities and 50% believe they are paid less than non-LGBTQ+ people
32% of transgender individuals avoid doctors and healthcare out of fear of being discriminated against
41% of LGBTQ+ people say they’ve experience slurs because of their sexual orientation/gender identity
57% of LGBTQ+ people say they have been either threatened, harassed, or experienced violence because of their sexuality or gender identity.
LGBTQ+ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than non-LGBTQ+ identifying teens.
LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to feel suicidal and over four times as likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual youth.
48% of transgender adults report that they have considered suicide in the last year, compared to 4 percent of the overall US population.
These stats are here to acknowledge and appreciate the unique LGBTQ+ experience. You can find more educational materials below:
LGBTQ+ Mental Health: Insights From MHA Screening
Bullying in Schools: Harassment Puts Gay Youth At Risk
If you wish to support or seek mental health services/resources for LGBTQ+ community, please see below:
National Queer and Trans Therapists of Color Network
Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)
Celebrate PRIDE month at Sixela Skincare and use code: PRIDE20 at checkout