Mental Health and LGB People

• Mental health issues facing LGB people
• Organisations and links

Mental health issues facing LGB People

By Chris Gildersleeve, PACE

Although society is becoming less prejudiced and things are changing for the better, most lesbians, gay men and bisexuals have experienced a range of difficulties in our lives, which can contribute to mental health problems.

Most of us have experienced at least some of the following:

• Hostility and/or rejection from family, parents, and friends
  
• Bullying and name calling at school
  
• Rejection by most mainstream religions
  
• Danger of violence in public places
  
• Harassment from neighbours and other tenants
  
• Casual homophobic comments on an every day basis
  
• Prejudice and embarrassed response from professionals like GPs
  
• No protection against discrimination at work, or in housing, pensions etc
  
• Negative image in the media (especially tabloid press)

Possible effects of homophobia on mental health

• Difficulty in accepting your sexual orientation - conflicts, denial, alcohol abuse, isolation
  
• Trying to keep it secret - lying, pretending, leading a double life
  
• Low self esteem
  
• Increased risk of self harm and suicide attempts
  
• Damaged relationships with families, lack of support from families
  
• Post-traumatic stress disorder and depression from long term effects of bullying
  
• People interviewed for PACE's 1997 research definitely felt that their mental health had been affected by homophobia

Access to services

Many lgb people experience difficulty accessing mainstream mental health services, for example:

• Mainstream mental health services are not always lesbian and gay friendly
  
• Some staff have judgmental attitudes about lgb sexuality
  
• Staff may not be well informed about specialist lesbian and gay services
  
• Staff may discriminate against lgbt partners in favour of birth family
  
• People who are Black or Asian as well as lgb may receive less favourable treatment than white people

Organisations and links

For LGBT specific services and national mental health organisations please search our What's in my Area section. Check the Nationwide page for charities and organisations which work on a national basis or in more than one region.

• Click here for Pink Therapy's online directory of gay-friendly counselling services
  
  
• Click here for the Mind factsheet about LGBT people and mental health