Mental health awareness week is 18-24th May this year and the theme is Kindness. Over the next few weeks Futureworks will be raising awareness of Mental Health.
Today's post will be focusing on LGBTQ+, understanding what LGBTQ+ means and how you can find the correct support if you are struggling with your own mental health or if you know of others who you feel like you can support. These posts are to raise awareness about mental health conditions and for you to gain an understanding of what you or others may be going through.
If you have any questions about these posts or would like to talk to somebody about your own mental health please contact: support@futureworks.ac.uk
L: Lesbian :
G: Gay
B: Bi-sexual
T: Transgender
Q: Questioning
+: An inclusive term for people who do not feel that they fit into traditional categories.
- Research suggests that mental health conditions e.g. depression and anxiety are more common in the LGBT+ community
- Research shows that more than 40% of LGBTQ people will experience a significant mental health problem, compared to around 25% of the whole population. We are also more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide than the population as a whole.
Video stories
Trans & Non-Binary mental health services
LGBT+ Counselling service
10 ways to safely affirm your LGBT identity during lockdown
Coming out guide
Coming out
Coming out stories
Coming out - advice for parents
Coming out as a young person
Coming out as an adult
A resource guide to coming out
Islam and sexuality
Combating loneliness amongst older LGBT+ people
Dealing with discrimination
Substance abuse
LGBT+ Self-referral form for substance abuse
Top tips for working with transgender and gender questioning young people
Women mental health
Sport groups in Manchester
Social groups for Gay,Bi and Trans men in Manchester
Support groups for all
Why do LGBTQ people have
higher rates of mental health issues?
Being LGBT+ does not automatically mean you will have mental health issues. However, mental health issues have been found among people who identify as LGBT+. One review of studies on mental health issues in the LGBT+ community found the following:
- LGBT+ people are at more risk of suicidal behaviour and self-harm than non-LGBT+ people.
- Gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to attempt suicide across their lifetime than the rest of the population.
- LGBT+ people are 1½ times more likely to develop depression and anxiety compared to the rest of the population.
- The most likely reason for this is that as LGBTQ people we experience stigma and discrimination. Some of us experience rejection and other negative reactions especially when we first come out
- We live in a world that for the most part does not reflect or take into account the experience of our day-to-day lives; a world that is full of subtle (and not so subtle) messages about lack of equal worth; about the unacceptability of difference
- We can be the subject of hate crimes ranging from verbal abuse in the street to violent attacks
- Some of us do not feel able to be out about our sexual or gender identity at work and/or at home; consequently we feel we have to be very careful about everything we say in relation to our personal lives. This can cause a great deal of ongoing stress.
- Just the fact that we are in some ways different from the majority of people in our society can cause us to question our value and worth, especially in adolescence. This can lead to feelings of low selfworth/self-esteem which can last into adulthood.
- Low self-worth, rejection, negative self-questioning, fear of judgement and abuse can make some situations in our lives more difficult to cope with
Discrimination & Bullying
More than half of younger LGBT+ people experience homophobic, bi phobic or trans phobic bullying in britains schools. Nearly half of pupils who experience bullying have symptoms of depression.
- 19% of LGB employees have experienced verbal bullying from colleagues, customers or service users because of their sexual orientation in the last five years.
- 15% of LGB employees have experienced verbal homophobic bullying from their colleagues in the last five years.
- 25% of trans people are made to use an inappropriate toilet in the workplace, or none at all, during the early stages of transition
- Over 10% of trans people experienced being verbally abused and 6% were physically assaulted.
- In 2013, one in six LGBT+ adults had experienced a hate crime or incident in the last 3 years.
Who to Contact?
- LGBT Foundation - Advice and Support 0345 3 30 30 30
- Switchboard - LGBT+ Helpline: 0300 330 0630 (10am-10pm every day / online chat)
- Youth Access - Advice & Counselling
- Mindline Trans+ 0300 330 5468 Free, confidential listening service for people identifying as trans or non-binary, and their friends and families.
- Young Minds Crisis Messenger provides free 24/7 crisis support. Text YM to 85258
- Samaritans - Call free on 116 123 (24 hours a day)
- Childline - If you are under 19 you can confidentially call, email or talk online about any problem you may be having
Helpline: 0800 1111 - The Mix - If you are under 25 you can contact them free via phone, online chat or email
Helpline: 0808 808 4994 (1pm-11pm daily) - 42nd Street - 0161 228 732. They provide online support and they also do referrals. On their website, it states “if you are struggling with your mental health and would like to speak with a mental health practitioner call us Monday – Friday 9.30-5 and ask to speak to a duty practitioner on 0161 228 7321.
- CALM - (Campaign Against Living Miserably) 0800 58 58 58 (5pm-midnight 365 days a year) or online webchat
- Shout - Text SHOUT to 85258 (24 hour text service)
- SANE emotional support, guidance and information to anyone affected by mental illness, including families, friends and carers.
0300 304 7000 (Helpline open 4.30pm-10.30pm). - Depression UK
In crisis? Call 999 if you are in serious distress or in danger of harming yourself or others. Alternatively:
- Go to A&E at your local hospital. The nearest to Futureworks is Manchester Royal Infirmary (0161 276 4147)
- Contact your GP / 111
- Call Samaritans 116 123 (free to call, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year)
- See below for other contact details that maybe beneficial for you, family or friends.
24/7 mental health helpline for Greater Manchester: 01204 4830
New 24/7 mental health for carers and service users who are currently engaged with the GMMH service - Greater Manchester: 01204 483 071
New 24/7 mental health crisis line for people of all ages in Halton, Knowsley, St Helens & Warrington: 01925 275 309
New 24/7 crisis line for people of all ages in Wigan: 01942 636 395
What other services are local to me?
