Ask Dr. Mike: Coping with the Mental Health Effects of Anti-LGBTQ+ Discrimination
The post Ask Dr. Mike: Coping with the Mental Health Effects of Anti-LGBTQ+ Discrimination appeared first on Consequence.
Spinning out of the Going There with Dr. Mike podcast presented by Consequence and Sound Mind Live, the monthly “Ask Dr. Mike” column is here to answer listeners’ questions. As we wrap up Pride Month, Dr. Mike is here to guide us through the mental health effects of anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.
Over the last month of Pride, members of the queer community and allies alike have celebrated how wonderful and life-affirming it can be when people can freely explore, embrace, and express their authentic sexuality and gender identity. Being able to live openly as an LGBTQ+ person can radically bolster an individual’s sense of mental health and well-being. The spirit of Pride is to build a world in which everyone can live in a free and open way to embrace who they are and love who they want.
In an ideal world, we know our gender and sexuality from an early age and we have supportive family, friends, schools, and businesses that make us feel safe and supported. Unfortunately, many people struggle to understand and embrace their authentic gender identity and sexuality, and often face discrimination throughout their lives.
Members of the LGBTQ+ community are at significant risk for facing mistreatment in many forms – from seemingly benign jokes to physical assault, as well as denial of equal rights under the law. Queer people can face criticism, rejection, and various forms of abuse from their own families, while also dealing with discrimination in public life like the workplace or politics. The Supreme Court’s recent ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization has raised the specter of reduced equality under the law for LGBTQ+ individuals, including the possible loss of marriage equality.
The emotional, physical, social, and financial stress of these kinds of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination can be incredibly damaging to the mental health and well-being of members of the queer community. In fact, research has shown that such bigotry predicts increased depression, anxiety, and substance abuse in the queer community. It is thus critical that we not only work on reducing anti-LGBTQ+ behaviors and beliefs, but also help queer people cope with this discrimination to minimize the potentially damaging mental health effects.
This month on the Going There with Dr. Mike Podcast, we spoke with the musicians SOAK, MUNA, and The Aces about the unique stressors that members of the queer community face. In addition to sharing their own experiences, each artist shared their own stories about dealing with the damaging mental health effects they faced. Based on those discussions, here are four possible strategies and concepts that can help manage the negative mental health effects of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination:
You Are Not the Problem — Bias and Discrimination Are:
When people are the target of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination, one of the most damaging results can be that victims of the discrimination are made to feel that the problem is theirs. This gaslighting can come in many forms. Perhaps the people around them deny that such prejudices exist , or try to minimize its damaging impact. Or perhaps people in the LGBTQ+ community are made to feel that they somehow deserve this bias and discrimination because of their gender identity or sexuality. But it is critical that queer people do not buy into this gaslighting narrative that both harms people and then invalidates their experience. Rather, the mental health issues that many members of the LGBTQ+ community experience is often a direct consequence of the bigotry they face.
Anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination are wrong and harmful. Period. It is not your fault when you are the victim of it or suffer from its effects.
Your Gender and Sexuality Are Yours and Yours Alone:
Anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination create many false narratives. One of them is that people in queer communities owe it to others to either declare or explain themselves to others, or to keep their gender and sexuality hidden in order to make others feel more comfortable. This strips LGBTQ+ individuals of being in control of their own sexuality or gender.
On the contrary, one of the keys to coping with anti-LGBTQ+ bias is to take ownership of your gender and sexuality. No one else can tell you what your gender identity or sexuality is, and no one else knows what is best for you in terms of when or how to express your gender or sexuality. Embracing this can provide a sense of control, authenticity, and connection to yourself even in the face of bias and discrimination.
Seek Out and Build a Supportive Community:
One of the most consistent messages from this month’s Going There guests was that having a supportive network helped them cope with anti-LGBTQ+ stressors. It’s a process that can begin by seeking out art that we connect with, particularly from artists who are either openly queer or strong advocates who address LGBTQ+ issues in their work and public life. In addition to artists such as SOAK, MUNA and The Aces, there are number artists who are publicly out as transgender or non-binary (Shea Diamond, Laura Jane Grace, Mina Caputo), gay (Frank Ocean, Elton John, Brandi Carlisle), or bisexual (Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, Halsey). Finding queer representation in entertainment can be an affirming way of feeling more comfortable with your own gender identity or sexuality.
Creating Safe Spaces with SOAK in the Going There Season 3 Premiere
It can also be a starting point for identifying safe spaces such as concerts where people may be more accepting. People can also seek out support groups within your local community and/or online. This month we spoke with members of Hopelab, whose imi guides create safe spaces for the LGBTQ+ community to improve their mental health. Taking steps like these can be the beginning of building networks of friends, family members, and romantic partners who can provide a supportive community.
Seek Out Mental Health Care:
As a way of both exploring gender identity and sexuality in addition to managing the negative mental health effects of anti-queer bias, it may be useful to seek out mental health professionals who are supportive. With tele-medicine, there is now more access to therapists than ever. In this case, it is crucial to make sure that the mental health professional you choose is supportive of queer sexuality and gender identity. Unfortunately, there is a long history of some mental health professionals treating being gay, bisexual, or transgender as a mental illness or consequence of a mental health problem. Try to find one who either on their website or in their public writing and talks is supportive of the queer community and can be a strong ally. Consult organizations such as The Trevor Project for help finding appropriate care.
Get Involved in Advocacy:
Ideally, the best way of minimizing the effects of anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination is to eliminate it. People are often are able to advocate for themselves in the context of a family, school, business, or community, and put a stop to this harmful practice in the immediate. Unfortunately, not everyone is in the position to advocate for themselves and the resulting feeling of helplessness can be further damaging to an individual’s mental health. However, if you are able to advocate for yourself or get involved in an advocacy group like the Human Rights Campaign or The Family Equality Council, you may be able to contribute to practical improvements in reducing anti-LGBTQ+ bias and discrimination as well as improve your own sense of agency and empowerment.
As we learned from this month’s guest on Going There, embracing your authentic gender and/or sexual identity can be a wonderful part of a thriving life and an important part of your mental health journey. Hopefully, we can all learn from these strong advocates of the queer community about coping with and overcoming the damaging mental health effects of anti-LGBTQ bias and discrimination so that we can all lead a more fulfilled, healthier life.
Ask Dr. Mike: Coping with the Mental Health Effects of Anti-LGBTQ+ Discrimination
Ben Kaye
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