Pride Month 2023
Pride Month 2023
Tips to look after your mental wellbeing and where to find support, this Pride Month and beyond.
June is Pride Month, an annual event dedicated to raising awareness and celebrating the remarkable influence of the LGBTQ+ community on our society.
Pride Month is a time for both celebration and reflection, as it can bring unique challenges for those of us who identify as LGBTQ+. Some may feel excluded and unrepresented, while others may experience heightened self-consciousness or a sense of vulnerability due to increased discrimination. Additionally, there are those who have yet to come out and may feel isolated during this month of celebration.
It’s essential to recognise that anyone can face mental health issues, but studies show that LGBTQ+ individuals are more susceptible to conditions like depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. Let’s remember that being LGBTQ+ does not cause these problems; rather, it’s the stigma and discrimination that can contribute to them.
Tips for wellbeing:
If Pride Month is causing you feelings of unease or anxiety, some things you could try that may help are:
- Connect with others. If you’re unsure about attending events in person, consider online events focused on wellbeing and connection as a more gentle way to interact with people.
- Prioritise self-care. Make sure you’re attending to the basics of physical self-care and looking after your day-to-day needs (food, hydration, sleep etc.). Where possible, try to take time to focus on yourself and to unwind.
- Breathing Exercises. Connecting with the breath can help us relax, unwind and reduce levels of stress. We have a great selection of breathing exercises on our Resources webpage.
- Reach out. Ask for support from friends, trusted family or specialist services such as Bath Mind’s Access Community Mental Health.
Finding support:
If you’re finding things tough at the moment, please be assured that you’re not alone. Below are just some of the available support services that can help:
- Akt give housing and homelessness support for the LGBTQ+ community aged 18-25. Live chat is available on their website.
- Mermaids offer confidential support for trans, non-binary and gender diverse children, young people and their families. Tel: 0808 8010 400
- MindLine Trans+ is an emotional support helpline for those who identify as Trans, Agender, Gender Fluid and Non-binary, as well as their friends and families. Tel: 0300 330 5468 Fridays 8pm – Midnight
- Stonewall UK give specialist advice for anyone identifying as LGBTIQ+. Tel: 020 7359 5767
- SwitchboardLGBT+ is a safe space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, sexual health and emotional wellbeing. Tel: 0800 0119 100
For more information on LGBTQ+ mental health, visit our Resource page.
Posted on: 19th June 2023
