Social Support Is Important For LGBTQ+ Mental Health
Have you ever wanted to show more social support to the LGBTQ+ Community?
Have you wondered how you would respond to someone coming out to you?
Are you concerned about bettering the mental health of people in the LGBTQIA+ community?
If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this article can help! Together we support LGBTQ+!
TW: This section mentions suicide and self-harm.
What is Social Support?
Social Support is the help and care someone receives from others. Social support comes in handy in moments where we feel lost, afraid, and anxious in life. When we have people who help us deal/cope with our emotions better, we feel less alone.
What happens when someone doesn’t have this support system to lean on? Think back to the hard times you have had in your life. When you were at your worst, who was there? Can you think of one person that made an impact on how you felt? Someone that helped you feel valued and heard? Now, imagine what it would be like if you did not have that person to get comfort from.
Maybe you have been without a support system. If you have weathered your darkest moments alone, know that you are very strong. Everyone deserves at least one person to rely on when those gloomy clouds appear.
Why is Social Support for LGBTQ+ Important?
The mental health of LGBTQIA+ people is a very important topic. In 2020, The Trevor Project reported alarming results about the mental health of LGBTQIA+ youth. Notably, over 40% of LGBTQIA+ respondents reported self-harming themselves and seriously considering suicide.
The results also showed that youth who had lower access to LGBTQ+-affirming spaces (school, home, work, community events) and people in their lives had higher rates of suicide attempts.
Social support is a very important part of the overall wellness of LGBTQIA+ people. This support helps protect queer people from social stress and rejection. In one study, LBQ women who had social support reported higher levels of self-esteem and resilience. These things promote body appreciation which can help protect LBQ women from developing eating disorders.
Furthermore, social support isn’t just found in loved ones like family and friends. Queer people should feel supported everywhere -that includes places like their work and their doctor’s offices, as well. No person should ever have to fear being harassed at their job or not being taken seriously by medical professionals.
As you can see, social support is crucial in helping queer people live happy and well-adjusted lives. Not to mention, queer people’s lives face higher risks when they lack social and affirming comforts. If you want to hear more about ways to help support LGBTQIA+ people, keep reading!
Ways to show Social Support for LGBTQ+
First, Support Them Through Their Coming Out Process
You may wonder how you would respond to someone who came out to you about their sexuality or gender identity. Unfortunately, there is no perfect rule book that you can follow step-by-step in these instances in life, but here are some tips:
Let them know that you are proud of them
Coming out can be very scary for queer people. Queer people are afraid of being rejected by their loved ones, peers, and society. In 2020, 29% of LGBTQIA+ youth had unstable living conditions- they faced being homeless, kicked out, or ran away.
Overall, the risks are extremely high for queer people when they share who they are with others. If someone shares this information with you, realize how brave they are being.
Be there for them
If your loved one is coming out to you, they probably really trust and care about you. You can thank them for sharing this information with you and let them know that you will be there to support them. You may not always feel like you know the right thing to say when your loved one comes to you. Try your best to comfort them when times get to touch, check-in with them, and do things that can brighten their mood in tough times.
Respect the boundaries and limits of this person
Like mentioned before, there are many risks LGBTQIA+ people face when coming out. They may want to keep their identity or sexuality private/ only known by a close group of people. Do not take part in gossip or tell people about this knowledge unless the person says it is ok. Someone’s sexual or gender identity is not a fun piece of gossip -this information has serious effects on people’s lives.
Let the person know that their information is respected and safe with you.
Use the pronouns, names, etc. that this person shared with you.
Using the pronoun/name a person identifies with shows you respect them. It may take time getting used to using pronouns/names if they differ from the past ones a person used. Try your best to make this change – over time, you will use these terms without even having to think about it!
Second, Become an Ally
If you are not LGBTQIA+, being an ally is how you can support this community! Being an LGBTQIA+ ally means that you help promote justice and equality for queer people. An ally also listens to and uplifts queer voices, helps educate people on queer topics, speaks up against injustice they see, etc. To learn more about ways to become a better ally to the LGBTQIA+ Community, read our latest article!
Third, Embrace Change to Support LGBTQ+
It may be hard for you to embrace all this new information. Maybe you come from a family or area that isn’t LGBTQIA+ supportive. Also, many people grow up absorbing the opinions and positions that the people around them have. If you are interested in being more supportive of the LGBTQIA+ community, know that it is never too late. People can change their opinions all the time and at any moment – growth takes time, but the results are worth it! Know that when a loved one comes out to you, your love and acceptance is so meaningful. As mentioned in this article, remember that social support is vital to the well-being of the person you love.
If You are in Need of Social Support for LGBTQ+
If you are a queer person who needs more social support, know that you are not alone! There are ways to access affirming and supportive spaces/people.
Chosen Family and Community
Many queer people find support from people outside of the families they were born into. When rejected by their family, this support system was there to help lift them up and heal. Having other people who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community surrounding you can really help you feel comforted and heard – they relate to what you are going through and know what you are feeling.
Being part of a community brings people together. If you want to find more queer people to connect with, try joining your school’s Gay-Straight Alliances (GSA) or local LGBTQIA+ Center. You never know who you will meet when you start participating in these spaces!
Try to Keep Your Circle Full of Social Support for LGBTQ+
You deserve to be treated with respect, always. Fiends should not disrespect you, make you feel bad about yourself, or hang out with people who are offensive to the LGBTQIA+ community. You do not deserve someone who treats you like that! If someone is your friend, they should only ever want to bring happiness and support into your life.
It may be scary to lose friends or distance yourself from people, but your wellness is important and should be honored by the people in your life.
Know that You are Enough
If someone rejects you for embracing your gender identity/sexuality, that has absolutely no reflection on you! Some people will never try and see things from other people’s points of view – this is their struggle. Be proud of who you are, and now that you deserve to live a happy and healthy life! The people who are meant to be in your life would only want to sow you love and support.
Mind Connections wishes you a Happy Pride Month! We provide affirming counseling for LGBTQ+ individuals and couples. If you struggle with harassment, hatred, related stress, anxiety, depression, or any other mental health challenge we are here to provide LGBTQIA-friendly therapy! Call us free for 15 minutes to discuss your concerns and seek pride counseling.
