Pride Month and Mental Health: The Importance of Support and Acceptance

Written By CBTDenver

Pride Month is a month of joy as resistance, celebration as resistance and pride in oneself as resistance to a long history of prejudice and judgment against those in the LGBTQIA+ community. The first pride marches happened in June 1970, and every June since people have gathered in celebration and support of self-expression and self-love. Due to decades of oppression, members of this community have unique mental health stressors. Pride Month was founded on combating those stressors through awareness, acceptance and support, and the understanding that those contribute to positive emotional-wellbeing. Having support systems in place is crucial for everyone, but it’s even more important for the LGBTQIA+ community due to the additional stressors experienced. Therapy can be one place of acceptance, empathy and mental health support. 

Understanding LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Challenges

Why Mental Health Concerns May Be Higher inLGBTQIA+ Communities

Being a part of an underrepresented and underserved community that is so personally interconnected with who one is can lead to increased stressors when someone does not feel they can be accepted and supported in their identity. 

Stressors include:

  • Discrimination or stigma

  • Fear of rejection

  • Loss of familial ties

  • Bullying or harassment

  • Lack of acceptance

  • Chronic stress

These experiences can contribute to:

  • Increased stress

  • Trauma

  • Low self-esteem

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Isolation and Hopelessness

  • Suicidal ideation and behaviors

The Mental Health Impact of Acceptance and Support

Human beings, at their core, are wired for connection, acceptance and belonging. Created by a psychologist in 1943, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs shows that love and belonging are necessities for survival, only second to physical needs and safety. Without love and belonging, one cannot have a sense of self-esteem or respect. 

Supportive relationships lead to a healthy view of self-worth and dignity which protects oneself from shame and isolation, both of which lead to increased mental health issues. Affirming support systems lead to:

  • Reduced anxiety and depression

  • A sense of purpose and responsibility

  • Healthier coping strategies

  • Increased self-expression and authenticity 

The Importance of Affirming Mental Health Care

What Is LGBTQIA+ Affirming Therapy?

Affirming therapy provides a safe place for LGBTQIA+ individuals to experience understanding, respect and emotional safety while exploring a sense of self and managing the unique stressors facing them. Therapists support identity development and exploration and help clients build a positive self-image. Affirming therapists also understand the impact of discrimination, community trauma and societal views and how those impact mental health.

Because many people in the LGBTQIA+ community have had negative experiences with those who want to change them or cast judgment, meeting with an affirming therapist is an important way to experience true support and welcoming.

How Therapy Can Help 

Therapists set goals with clients of what to work on or work towards - possible goals include:

  • Managing anxiety or depression

  • Developing self-esteem and self-confidence

  • Processing stress related to identity

  • Navigating family dynamics or conflict

  • Building coping skills for discrimination or stress

Helpful therapy modalities that build emotional wellbeing are:

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a structured, evidence-based therapy modality that focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and actions. Therapists help clients identify negative thought patterns or behaviors and replace them with positive and helpful alternatives, build skills for managing stress, and empower individuals to take control of mental wellbeing.

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a form of CBT that focuses on living in alignment with one’s core values and and learning to accept difficult emotions rather than struggling with them. Acceptance and mindfulness techniques are taught to help clients learn to disconnect and create distance from unhelpful narratives and create meaningful connections and valued-driven action. 

Complexities of Pride Month

Pride Month is not always joy, singing in the streets and joining parades, as for some it has a host of complex feelings. Some people feel more isolated, recognizing that they lack a support system to celebrate with. It can lead to feelings of grief around loss of relationships or ideals of how life should look. It can cause stress around identity and self-acceptance for those struggling to accept themselves or be accepted. 

Everyone’s experience is individual and different, and all feelings that arise are valid.

Ways to Support LGBTQIA+ Mental Health

Tips for supporting yourself or someone you love

  • Listen without judgment or advice, just empathy and understanding

  • Practice self-care and surround yourself with supportive people

  • Set boundaries with harmful relationships

  • Speak up against discrimination

  • Seek professional support when needed

If you are struggling with self-acceptance, looking for a supportive place to process and untangle the complexities of identity, and to increase emotional wellbeing, our clinicians are here to help. Contact us for more information about working with an affirming therapist.

CBTDenver
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