Mental Health and LGBTQ+ History Month
The UK celebrates LGBTQ+ history month every February. We hold this history month to celebrate the history and progress of the community but equally it can also be a time to reflect on how far there is to go and how mental health might affect LGBTQ+ people.
Why is LGBTQ+ History Month important?
Stonewall (the largest LGBTQ+ rights organisation in Europe, named after the 1969 Stonewall riots ) conducted a work survey in 2018 and found that 35% of LGBTQ+ employees feel like they have to hide their sexuality at work for fear of discrimination, stigma or abuse. The numbers are far higher for those in the Black and Minority Ethnic LGBTQ+ community.
This has a profound impact on an individual’s mental health as people live in fear of being who they are - themselves! Representation matters. Everyone should be comfortable being who they are without fear of bullying or discrimination inside or outside of work. We have come far since the first UK Pride march in 1972 but there is always progress to be made.
LGBTQ+ History Month Theme
The theme for 2024’s LGBTQ+ History Month is activism and social change - throughout history LGBTQ+ people have been activists and helped shape and create social change, advancing society for everyone using many different approaches to activism.
Activism can mean anything from protests and campaigns to living openly as your true self. Being an ally to LGBTQ+ people is also important, whether they're friends, colleagues or people you meet in your community.
What can I do to support an LGBTQ+ person?
Although the UK has come far in recent years to protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination, there is still a way to go, especially in the Transgender community. You can:
- Be an ally. It is always appreciated to have non-LGBTQ+ allies. A listening and supportive ear is always welcomed. LGBTQ+ people may not feel comfortable reporting discriminatory behaviour. If you see or are informed of discrimination inside or outside of work please report via the appropriate channels.
- Do research. It’s ok to not understand all of the terminology but your LGBTQ+ friends will usually appreciate you researching and asking questions (try not to be personally invasive though) to broaden your knowledge.
- Support LGBTQ+ art and charity. This goes a long way in supporting LGBTQ+ people be visible in society and helps stamp out discrimination for good.
- At Cera our colleagues sign up to our Pride Pledge. By signing the pledge, colleagues recognise our collective responsibility to contribute to a culture of acceptance and belonging, making Cera a place where everyone feels safe and thrives, and LGBTQ+ people feel seen and supported.
Cera's Pride Pledge
What are the key terms?
The LGBTQ+ community has lots of terms which individuals use to identify themselves. A few are listed below (there are many more which are listed HERE):
Lesbian - refers to a woman who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards women. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.
Gay - usually a term used to describe a man who has a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards men. It is also a generic term for lesbian and gay sexuality. Some non-binary people may also identify with this term.
Bisexual - An umbrella term used to describe a romantic and/or sexual orientation towards more than one gender.
Non-binary - An umbrella term for people whose gender identity does not sit comfortably with “man” or “woman”. People may identify as more than one gender, no gender, or have a fluctuating gender identity.
Cisgender - Someone whose gender identity is the same as the sex they were assigned at birth.
Transgender - An umbrella term used to describe people whose gender is not the same as, or does not sit comfortably with, the sex they were assigned at birth. Please note that people who identify as transgender don’t necessarily have to have their gender “reassigned,” and non-binary identities tend to fall into this umbrella.
Queer - Traditionally a slur term, it was reclaimed in the 1980s by the queer community who embrace it. People who identify as queer tend to reject specific labels of sexual orientation and/or gender identity.
LGBTQ+ Mental Health Statistics
- Over half of LGBTQ+ people report they they experienced depression in the past year.
- In the Transgender community, rates of depression are higher still - at 67%.
- 70% of non-binary people report that they experienced depression in the past year.
- People who are bisexual are 13% more likely to experience depression than those who identify as gay or lesbian.
It is important to note that those with mental health difficulties may relate to other factors in life and not necessarily linked to their LGBTQ+ identity.
LGBTQ+ Resources
Some further reading you might find helpful:
