As we mentioned across our Social Media, June is the month of Pride!
This is where we can join together and celebrate the LGBTQ+ Communities all around the world in the aim of promoting acceptance and equality! It is also a great time for spreading awareness towards any issues that people within the LGBTQ+ communities may experience.
Something that we truly try to express here at Burton and District Mind is our belief in inclusivity. Everyone deserves to be able to celebrate who they are, and who they are love without being treated differently for it.
In regards to mental health and being LGBTQ+ the biggest link between the two is that due to issues such as homophobia, transphobia, dangerous stigmas and isolation, people within the LGBTQ+ communities may be more likely to experience a mental health problem.
Here are some important statistics from Stonewall that highlight this…
- Half of LGBTQ+ people had experienced depression, with 3 in 5 experiencing anxiety
- 1 in 8 LGBTQ+ people aged 18 – 24 had attempted to end their life
- Almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life
So what can we as a community do to show support?
Educate Ourselves – There may be terms within the LGBTQ+ Communities that you may not fully understand, or maybe you aren’t fully aware as to some of the issues they have experienced and why Pride is so important. This is a great opportunity for us to show that we care, and taking the chance to learn more. Through this we can also make sure to avoid any negative stigmas or words that are often used as insults
Respect members of the LGBTQ+ community – People being able to feel that they are able to express who they truly are is so important to our mental health. One such way in which that is done is through pronouns! Whether that be through identifying as he/him, she/her, or they/them. So to use those pronouns to identify someone correctly, can truly be a wonderful thing.
Get involved – Why not go down to your local Pride event and join in! Tamworth Pride will be taking place in July, and you can find more information here - https://tamworthpride.org/
Through showing support as a community, and doing more to remove the negative behaviour often aimed towards LGBTQ+ people, we can make society a much more inclusive place.
We also want to take this opportunity to express to LGBTQ+ people you are not alone; we are here for you. If you need support for your mental health, please talk to us.
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