Earlier this month, the Canadian Men's Mental Health Report was released. The results of the study revealed that the risk of moderate-to-high depression in gay and bisexual men is 28%, and their risk of moderate-to-high anxiety is 45%, which is significantly higher than in heterosexual men, whose risk is 18% and 30% for depression and anxiety, respectively.
This June is Pride Month, as well as Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month, so it is important to acknowledge how the two awareness campaigns could work together to address the clear disparity in mental health awareness among gay and bisexual men.
Please have a read of my expert insight this month to find out more.
#mensmentalhealth#mentalhealth#pridemonth#GlobalData
Hi. Unfortunately this is all too true. I work with gay men and the effect of internalised homophobia should never be underplayed. It leads to shame and can even be a factor in suicide.
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Psychotherapist and author of The Beast of Gloom, Beyond Your Confines: The Workbook, Beyond Your Confines, and Beyond the Blue | Posts≠ therapy/advice
Loneliness defines a queer or trans experience. There is a struggle to come to terms with an identity that doesn't fit expectations, and at first this is something that is struggled with alone.
Then there is the catch-22 experience that concealing an identity can compound distress, whereas 'coming out' can increase risk of hostile reactions, the loss of employment, social groups, etc.
The risk for loneliness and social isolation is compounded when someone then experiences violence or other hostility due to their identity. Isolation and avoidance are seen as coping strategies that can end up being overly used in response to such hostile experiences.
Many professionals advocate social connection as an essential component to mental health. However, there is a need to assess the quality of those social connections, especially for the queer and trans experience.
#loneliness#queer#trans#mentalhealth
Gender Nonconformity May Increase #MentalHealth Risks
New research highlights a concerning link between gender nonconformity and increased risks of #depression, #anxiety, and low self-esteem, especially among young #men and teenagers. Gender nonconformity includes behaviors, interests, and dispositions that deviate from typical #gender expectations—like when boys show interest in stereotypically feminine activities.
Dr. Qazi Rahman, a senior lecturer at King’s College London, explains, “These behaviors could attract bullying, discrimination, and victimization, which may lead to poorer mental health outcomes.”
Rahman and his team reviewed nearly 2,000 studies on how gender nonconformity relates to mental health, shedding light on the impact of societal pressures.
📖 Read more about their findings here: https://lnkd.in/gQDbT7xE#DAWN
Religious Trauma Specialist | Founder & CEO at AMR Therapy | Psychotherapist and Consultant Empowering professionals and individuals through evidence-based care, inclusivity, and transformative healing.
As we continue to celebrate Pride Month, today we will be addressing the specific mental health struggles that trans people face.
Negative attitudes and discrimination, even within the LGBTQIA+ community itself, can lead to self-internalised transphobia, significantly impacting mental wellbeing. This deep-seated confusion and shame can manifest as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
But the complexity of these issues goes beyond mental health. According to the largest survey ever carried out in relation to transgender individuals – with 28,000 respondents – almost one in three reported using drugs other than alcohol in the past month. This group is also likely to participate in chemsex parties, which pose additional risks to both physical and mental health, creating a downward spiral.
The nuanced interplay between developing mental health conditions due to their identity struggles and the increased likelihood of substance use requires a very experienced team of clinical professionals to tease apart, in order to help guide them through sustainable recovery. It is essential to realise and untangle these subtle interplays to uncover the root causes behind someone's need for mental health or addiction support. Treating the symptom is not enough; we must address the underlying issues to provide effective and compassionate care.
For GPs and mental health professionals, ensuring referrals to a service that grasps these intricate dynamics is vital in providing the best possible support for such individuals to help them navigate their unique challenges.
https://lnkd.in/gVY7YnNc#PrideMonth#TransHealth#MentalHealthAwareness#LGBTQIA#AddictionSupport
This Pride season we’re pledging to start more conversations about mental health, and supporting the Check-in with Pride Campaign: CheckInWithPride.co.uk.
“LGBT+ Britons are more likely to suffer with mental health conditions such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia, a new YouGov survey shows. Over the last 12 months, half of LGBT+ Britons (51%) say they experienced or were diagnosed with a mental health condition, compared to a third of the general population (32%).”
Source: https://lnkd.in/e8RApqQE
Good mental health is an ongoing journey for many people, but for LGBTQ+ people that journey can be more challenging.
“Integrating the findings of population-based studies conducted over the last 20 years, this meta-analysis found an overall higher risk for mental disorders in sexual minority people compared with heterosexuals. Both lesbian/gay and bisexual people had a higher risk for all examined diagnostic categories than heterosexual people. When comparing bisexual people to lesbian/gay people, bisexual people had a higher risk for depression and suicidality.”
Source: https://lnkd.in/ejyTFQNB
We can all do more to break down the stigma around talking about mental health for everyone, starting with the people around us. You can ask: How are you feeling? Is there anything you would like to talk about? (Learn about having mental health conversations from Mind: https://lnkd.in/emkB2WP3).
Check-in with Pride aims to foster a more inclusive and compassionate environment, and better support our LGBTQ+ friends, family, work mates, neighbours and chosen families.
Together we can normalise conversations about mental health, and in doing so support more people who are struggling. You can find more information on how to check-in with someone, details of free suicide prevention training, and links to support services at CheckInWithPride.co.uk.
#CheckInWithPride#Yorkshire
How can we help young people feel less lonely? What do young people want? https://buff.ly/3ORlXQN
Lauren Turner appraises a qualitative study exploring young people’s views on the acceptability and feasibility of youth loneliness interventions.
The 23 young people who were interviewed were mostly heterosexual, living in urban areas, and had used mental health services. They had a diverse range of gender identities and belonged to various ethnic backgrounds. Six themes were identified based on these interviews, which reflected participants’ opinions on the acceptability and feasibility of interventions to combat loneliness for young people:
1. Choosing the appropriate intervention for each stage of loneliness,
2. Engaging people in interventions,
3. Optimising intervention setting and delivery,
4. Divergent views on the role of technology,
5. Clarity over the scope of an intervention, and
6. The importance of using a combination approach
#Loneliness#Youth#YoungPeople#Interventions#QualitativeResearch#Acceptability#Feasibility
How can we help young people feel less lonely? What do young people want? https://buff.ly/3ORlXQN
Lauren Turner appraises a qualitative study exploring young people’s views on the acceptability and feasibility of youth loneliness interventions.
The 23 young people who were interviewed were mostly heterosexual, living in urban areas, and had used mental health services. They had a diverse range of gender identities and belonged to various ethnic backgrounds. Six themes were identified based on these interviews, which reflected participants’ opinions on the acceptability and feasibility of interventions to combat loneliness for young people:
1. Choosing the appropriate intervention for each stage of loneliness,
2. Engaging people in interventions,
3. Optimising intervention setting and delivery,
4. Divergent views on the role of technology,
5. Clarity over the scope of an intervention, and
6. The importance of using a combination approach
#Loneliness#Youth#YoungPeople#Interventions#QualitativeResearch#Acceptability#Feasibility
Gay Men’s Life Coach.
2moHi. Unfortunately this is all too true. I work with gay men and the effect of internalised homophobia should never be underplayed. It leads to shame and can even be a factor in suicide.