Mental Health within the LBGTQ+ Community
Staff Writer: Danielle Yampuler
The American LGBTQ+ community is a vibrant and diverse group with centuries of history. As the years pass, they have only become a more visible and strong part of the population. According to a recent poll conducted by Gallup, around 9.3% of American adults identify as LGBTQ+ in some way. However, despite their size, history, and well-known role as trailblazers in pop culture, the LGBTQ+ population has always been subject to strife. Due to oppression and persecution, LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately more likely to suffer from mental health issues. LGBTQ+ people are also subject to common factors that can intensify mental unwellness, such as genetic predisposition and upbringing, but the unique societal dangers that they face cause psychological disturbances to occur within the community at disproportionate rates. At Walt’s Waltz, we believe that it is important to understand the root of mental health issues in order to aid in recovery from them.
The Trevor Project, a national organization dedicated to aiding the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth, conducts an expansive annual research survey on LGBTQ+ mental health. These surveys often bring to light startling information, such as the fact that in 2024, “39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year.” This percentage is higher among gender non-conforming individuals and youth of color. This is because mental health is an intersectional issue. While many people are genetically predisposed to suffer from mental health issues, societal factors play a large role in mental health as well. If a person faces bullying and persecution for their race, and then also for their sexual orientation, that trauma interacts with each other to further worsen mental health. It is in this way that identities within a person can interact with each other and the society around them in order to form mental states.
According to the FBI, 2,402 instances of reported hate crimes were motivated by anti-LGBTQ+ bias in 2024. This number has only risen from previous years. This is not a wonder due to a move towards anti-LGBTQ+ politics in the mainstream. Many American LGBTQ+ community members have reported feelings of loneliness and isolation due to an overwhelming belief that their country may be turning against them. Additionally, The Trevor Project found multiple links between lack of acceptance and mental health issues in LGBTQ+ people. According to the foundation, “90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively impacted due to recent politics.” LGBTQ+ people in environments that were more likely to be biased against them also reported disproportionately higher rates of attempting suicide. This is due to the mental impact of bullying, legal persecution, and other challenges LGBTQ+ people face.
However, the LGBTQ+ community is known for its strength. It has always been dedicated to maintaining community centers, clinics, and other avenues through which one can find acceptance, therapy, and healthcare. Community is and always has been an essential aspect of the route to recovery, and LGBTQ+ people have it in abundance, even when times can feel dark. The Trevor Project reports that LGBTQ+ people in gender-affirming/accepting environments face a much lower suicide risk. For that reason, we believe it is essential for LGBTQ+ people to understand where they can gain care and community.
All of Walt’s Waltz programs and events are open to and accepting of LGBTQ+ individuals. This website can point you towards the closest LGBTQ+ community center to you. Greenville’s own LGBTQ+ Center, PrideLink, has many available mental health resources open to those who need them. Many suicide crisis services catered specifically toward LGBTQ+ individuals exist, such as the Trans Lifeline and The Trevor Project’s suicide hotline. Times may feel dark, but the LGBTQ+ community is not alone in its struggles. Many accepting allies, including Walt’s Waltz own team, are dedicated to aiding the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community. We hope that we have equipped you with the proper information to explain mental health struggles among LGBTQ+ people, as well as the resources that can be used to aid in those struggles.