Pride Month, Allyship & Mental Health
Pride Month, Allyship & Mental Health
by Sharon Fu, Seeds of Hope Counseling
Happy Pride Month, readers!
Why does Pride Month matter? Why do people celebrate?
In simple terms, Pride is a celebration of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual (LGBTQIA+) people living authentically. Pride Month goes back more than a half-century ago with the Stonewall riots, a series of riots for gay liberation that took place over several days in New York City beginning on June 28, 1969.
Living Authentically & Better Health
LGBTQIA+ are more than twice as likely as heterosexual men and women to have a mental health disorder in their lifetime. They are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety and substance misuse compared with heterosexual individuals.
Why? Stigma and discrimination are big factors. How can these problems be solved? Support of straight allies is a big move in the right direction, coupled with accessibility and awareness of mental health resources like LGBTQIA-friendly counselors. These solutions are not definitive, but they are a great start.
How to be an Ally
With 7.1 percent U.S. adults who identifying as something other than heterosexual, according to a recent Gallup Poll, chances are someone you know and love is in this community and deserves your help in making the world a better place for them. More people becoming allies is essential in the fight for mental health inequity among LGBTQIA+.
How does one be a good ally? The Human Rights Campaign offers the following advice from a recent survey regarding LGBTQIA+ Youth, but this can be applied to all ages:
1. Listen: “Adults can help by being understanding…” Take the time to listen and learn from LGBTQ youth.
2. Be a role model for kindness and inclusion. “Don’t tolerate any kind of hateful speech,” stressed one survey participant.
3. Show young people that they can be authentic around you. Almost half of the LGBTQ youth surveyed say they’ve muted their self-expression or are re-thinking their future plans because of the election.
4. Take action at the local level to create safe spaces. More than half of LGBTQ youth say they are now more motivated than ever to help others. Let’s make sure that they feel empowered to do so.
5. Stay informed and get involved in the fights ahead. We face a long and difficult fight ahead to protect the historic progress we’ve made toward ensuring full LGBTQ equality.
Support for LGBTQIA+
Pride asserts LGBTQIA+ people deserve to live an affirmed, safe, supported, joyful and mentally healthy lives. If you are an LGBTQIA+ person and are struggling to live your best authentic life and would like to talk to to a trusted mental health professional, The Trevor Project is a great resource.
If you are a parent looking for resources in the McHenry County area for your LGBTQIA+ child, I proudly specialize in clinical counseling in this area and would love to connect with you here.
A final note, McHenry County has a fantastic Woodstock Pride group ramping up for their annual PrideFest and does hard work year-round to provide a safe space to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community. Learn more about them and how you can get involved here.
