Celebrating Pride Month Through LGBTQ+ Mental Health Awareness
As we celebrate Pride Month, it’s essential to recognize that while this is a time of joy, visibility, resistance, and acceptance, it’s also a crucial opportunity to reflect on the unique mental health challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community. For many, the journey toward self-acceptance and living authentically is fraught with obstacles like discrimination, rejection, and a lack of understanding. These struggles often lead to higher rates of mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and even suicide. During Pride Month, we not only celebrate the victories of the LGBTQ+ rights movement and continue the fight for LGBTQ+ equality, but we also highlight the need for continued awareness and support around mental health. In this post, I’ll dive into the mental health disparities faced by LGBTQ+ individuals, explore why these issues persist, and discuss how to find LGBTQ+ affirming therapy.
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Disparities
As a whole, LGBTQ+ adults and youth are two times more likely to experience mental health challenges than heterosexual and cisgender adults and youth. Additionally, transgender adults are four times more likely to experience mental health challenges than cisgender adults (National Alliance on Mental Illness). Mental health disparities impact both LGBTQ+ mental health outcomes and access to care.
Depression and Anxiety
According to the American Psychiatric Association, LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to have anxiety and depression than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. LGBTQ+ teenagers are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than their heterosexual and cisgender peers (Mental Health America).
Trauma
Familial rejection, homelessness due to unsupportive environments, and experiences of discrimination including homophobia and transphobia can all be traumatic for people in the LGBTQ+ community. Data from 2025, showed that LGBTQ+ people were five times more likely to be victims of violent crimes, such as rape and assault, than non-LGBTQ people, and were also nine times more likely to experience violent hate crimes. Rates of being victims of violent crimes were even higher for LGBTQ+ people of color. These increased rates of experiencing traumatic events create a heightened risk of mental health concerns, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).
Substance Use
Possibly due to coping with societal oppression, discrimination, rejection, and other mental health concerns, LGBTQ+ people are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs than heterosexual and cisgender people (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Suicide
The LGBTQ+ community has a higher risk of experiencing suicidal thoughts or making suicide attempts than heterosexual and cisgender people (National LGBT Health Education Center). The 2024 Annual Report by The Trevor Project found that 39% of LGBTQ+ people between the ages of 13-24 had seriously considered attempting suicide, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary people age 13-24. These rates were found to be higher among LGBTQ+ youth of color than for their White peers. They additionally reported that 12% of young LGBTQ+ people had attempted suicide within the last year. This is contrasted with data that approximates 12% of young adults age 18-25 and 20% of high schoolers have seriously considered attempting suicide and 2% of young adults and 9% of high schoolers reported a suicide attempt in the last year (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
What Contributes to LGBTQ+ Mental Health Disparities?
Social, cultural, and systemic factors create mental health disparities between LGBTQ+ people and their heterosexual and cisgender peers. LGBTQ+ people do not experience greater rates of mental health because of their identities, but because of the ways that society and other people discriminate against and stigmatize their identities and experiences.
Lack of Familial Support/Rejection
LGBTQ+ people may be less likely to have supportive social networks, especially if they live in areas that have limited LGBTQ+ representation and resources or have experienced rejection by their family due to their sexual and/or gender identity. Young LGBTQ+ people who experience rejection from their families, may also then go on to experience homelessness and other financial difficulties. As social support is a strong protective factor against mental illness, experiences of rejection, isolation, and lack of belonging can contribute to mental health concerns.
Stigma and Discrimination in Healthcare Settings
Many LGBTQ+ people have experienced healthcare providers who have been discriminatory and experienced stigma around their identities while receiving care. Practices of conversation therapy, the dangerous, ineffective, and harmful practice of trying to change someone’s sexual, romantic, or gender identity to be heterosexual and cisgender, have been traumatizing experiences for LGBTQ+ people within healthcare settings and with healthcare providers. These experiences of stigma and discrimination may contribute to people delaying or rejecting mental health care when it may be needed.
Minority Stress and Discrimination
Minority stress describes the cumulative impact of the high levels of stress experienced by people with stigmatized identities within society. Minority stress theory, coined by psychologist Illan Meyer, helps to explain the health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ people. The impact of stressors, including discrimination, prejudice, rejection, and internalized homo/transphobia, can have a cumulative impact on overall mental and physical well-being for LGBTQ+ people. The impacts of living within oppressive and discriminatory systems can also be increased for people with multiple marginalized identities, such as LGBTQ+ people of color or LGBTQ+ disabled people.
Anti-LGBTQ+ Legislation
Recent upticks in proposed and passed anti-LGBTQ+ legislation can also negatively affect mental well-being for LGBTQ+ people. In 2024, The Trevor Project found that 90% of LGBTQ+ young people aged 13-24 reported that their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics. Not only does the increase in anti-LGBTQ+ legislation increase fear, concerns for safety, and stigma for people in the LGBTQ+ community, it also limits access to necessary resources and supports, such as recent bans on gender affirming care for minors and ending specific LGBTQ+ support on the 988 Suicide and Crisis Line.
Lack of LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy
Many therapists are not knowledgeable, experienced, and trained to help with some of the specific concerns of LGBTQ+ people. This can lead to feeling the need to educate your therapist, or experiencing non-affirming and non-inclusive mental health care for LGBTQ+ people. Moreover, even if LGBTQ+ affirming therapy is available, people may not be aware of these types of services or be unable to access them due to financial or location-based constraints.
Why LGBTQ+ Mental Health Awareness is Important in Pride Month
Highlighting LGBTQ+ mental health during Pride Month is an important step in destigmatizing seeking LGBTQ+ affirming mental health care and highlights the need for continued advocacy, education, and support. Talking about the impact of mental health concerns within the LGBTQ+ community can also help to create supports and spaces that normalize mental health treatment and therapy. Finally, Pride Month also allows a space to celebrate the resiliency and strength that exists throughout the LGBTQ+ community, create spaces of support and belonging, and increase feelings of affirmation, acceptance, and empowerment, all of which can contribute to positive mental health impacts.
Finding an LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist
If you are searching for an LGBTQ+ affirming therapist, there are a number of resources that might be helpful for you:
Additionally, you can also reach out to local LGBTQ+ community centers, health centers, or other LGBTQ+ groups who may have options for LGBTQ+ affirming therapists. Once you find a therapist you are interested in working with, also make sure to ask them about their experience working with LGBTQ+ clients, with your identity, and anything else that is important for you to feel safe and comfortable with your therapist.
LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapist in Lexington, Kentucky
I am a queer therapist in Lexington, Kentucky and I offer LGBTQ+ affirming therapy virtually throughout Kentucky. Growing up in Kentucky, I understand the difficulties that can occur navigating Kentucky as a queer and bisexual woman. Although my experiences may differ from yours, I work to connect with and understand my client’s experiences to help foster feelings of empowerment to help my clients live as their authentic selves. If you are looking for an LGBTQ+ therapist in Lexington, Kentucky and would like to know more about working with me, feel free to schedule a free 15-minute consultation or contact me with any questions you may have!
About the Author:
Dr. Carolyn Meiller is an LGBTQ+ Psychologist in Kentucky. She provides LGBTQ+ Affirming Therapy in Lexington, Kentucky virtually throughout Kentucky. She has worked with LGBTQ+ clients throughout her career in private practice, universities, and community mental health. She helps LGBTQ+ clients explore and understand their relationships with others and themselves. Learn more about working with me here.
