Trigger Warning: This blog contains discussions of LGBTQIA+ discrimination and abuse, as well as references to suicide ideation.

To celebrate Pride Month, the most recent episode of Let’s Talk Mate discussed themes of LGBQTIA+ people and mental health, accessing mental health services and the importance of community.

This was an episode I was really proud of, as I felt it served as a great starting conversation for people who may not be particularly well educated on LGBQTIA+ issues and how mental health can impact on people in that community.

Despite the bulk of the response being positive, there was a stream of comments that mocked or abused people in the community. These comments were deleted, because as part of our responsibility when it comes to shining a spotlight on these issues, is to protect the group of people we are spotlighting who are often the targets of abuse.

As someone who does a lot of activism work, comment of this nature aren’t new to me at all, I am used to them as well as more targeted and personal abuse; But I had hope given the nature of what we were talking about, perhaps these comments wouldn’t be as prominent in this case.

We are a mental health charity who were talking about people’s mental health, and specifically in this case a group of people who are more likely to suffer with poor mental health.

People who identify as LGBTQIA+ have been shown to be more likely to develop problems such as; Low self esteem, depression, anxiety/social anxiety, self harm and suicidal feelings. Some standout stats from a Stonewall survey include:

• half of LGBTQI+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety.
• one in eight LGBTIQ+ people aged 18 to 24 had attempted to end their life.
• almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life.

In Hampshire specifically, hate crime has been on the rise with a 45% increase in reported incidents from 2016 to the most recent numbers published by the Hampshire Constabulary in 2020, with reports of hate crime around the country not slowing down in the last couple of years.

As spoke about in depth on the podcast, attacks on trans rights have been ever increasing in the last couple of years, with trans+ people consistently coming under attack on a national level; With the most recent decision not to include them in the conversion therapy ban the most obviously offence.

If you are someone who did, or thought about, leaving disparaging comments on the podcast; I implore you to take into consideration some of the things I’ve said in this blog, and maybe take some time out of your day to listen to the podcast, and hear the experiences of the human beings behind those numbers.

At Solent Mind, we will continue to evolve our services, work environment and online presence to ensure we are truly open to all. For better mental health for ALL in Hampshire.

If you have been affected by anything I have discussed, please reach out to one of our services, or take a look at the list of LGBTQIA+ specific charities I have listed below…

Beyond Reflections - https://linktr.ee/beyondreflections

Breakout Youth - https://www.breakoutyouth.org.uk/

LGBT+ Foundation - https://bit.ly/3NB1L3g

Stonewall - https://bit.ly/3aLwhsS

Just Like Us - https://bit.ly/3aX8Mx7

Mermaids - https://bit.ly/3O7nJL7