As Pride Month unfolds around us in a vibrant wave of rainbows and celebrations, it’s a perfect time to connect with its core message: one of community, resilience, and the power of supportive action!
As Fundamental Wellbeing trainers, we are dedicated to creating safe spaces and equipping people with the tools to support one another. To do that effectively for everyone, it’s crucial we understand the specific context and challenges different groups face.
This post is about looking deeper and exploring how we can apply our skills with a greater level of awareness to support the LGBTQ+ community.
The acronym LGBTQ+ stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (or Questioning), with the ‘+’ acknowledging the many other identities across the spectrum of sexuality and gender.
This begins with understanding a key concept: minority stress.
This isn’t a complex psychological term. It simply refers to the high levels of chronic stress faced by people from stigmatised groups. This stress doesn’t come from being part of the LGBTQ+ community, but from external pressures – things like prejudice, discrimination, family rejection, and the constant, tiring effort of hiding who you are. It’s an invisible backpack of extra weight they carry every day.
The ‘Why’: A Quick Look at the UK Picture
On our courses, we deliberately keep statistics to a minimum to ensure the focus remains on human connection and practical skills. However, in this case, a few key UK-based figures can powerfully illustrate why this conversation is so vital.
According to research from Stonewall;
- Half of LGBTQ+ people (52%) had experienced depression in the last year.
- The same report found that one in eight LGBTQ+ people aged 18-24 (13%) had attempted to take their own life.
For the trans community, the numbers are even more stark. The word ‘trans’ is an umbrella term for people whose gender identity is different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
- A 2021 report by LGBT Foundation revealed that 93% of trans and non-binary people (those who do not identify exclusively as male or female) had experienced suicidal thoughts.
These numbers are not statistics to be memorised. They are a call to action. They represent real people in our communities who need compassionate, informed support.
The Invisible Backpack: Recognising Unique Stressors
So, what does that “invisible backpack” of minority stress actually contain?
When you’re offering support, it’s helpful to be aware of these common, yet often hidden, stressors:
The Anxiety of Coming Out: “Coming out” is the process of telling people about your sexual orientation (who you are attracted to) or your gender identity (your internal sense of who you are). For many, this is not a one-time event but a series of conversations, each carrying the risk of rejection.
Family Estrangement: While many families are supportive, some LGBTQ+ people face rejection from the very people they expect to love them unconditionally. This can lead to profound feelings of grief, loneliness, and isolation.
Misgendering: This is when someone is referred to with incorrect pronouns (the words we use to refer to people, like ‘he,’ ‘she,’ or ‘they’) or other terms. Whether accidental or intentional, each instance can feel like a small cut, reinforcing feelings of invisibility or disrespect.
Hypervigilance: This is the constant, exhausting mental work of scanning a room or conversation to gauge if it’s safe to be yourself. Can I mention my partner? Will this person be friendly if they know I’m gay? This background process drains mental and emotional energy.
The Fundamental Wellbeing Toolkit: Applying Your Skills with Nuance
You already have the core skills to support someone struggling. The key is to apply them with this new layer of awareness.
Non-Judgemental Listening: This is your number one tool. By understanding the potential for minority stress, you can listen without making assumptions. You can create a space that feels truly safe, allowing someone to share their experiences without needing to self-censor.
Asking Better Questions: Your questions can signal safety. An open question like, “You seem to have a lot on your plate. Is there anything you’d like to talk about?” is much more effective than a specific one like, “Is everything okay at work?”. It doesn’t assume the source of the stress and allows the person to lead.
The Power of Signposting: Knowing where to guide someone for specialised support is a vital part of our role. Here are some fantastic UK organisations you can signpost people to:
MindOut: A mental health service run by and for LGBTQ+ people, so they know they’re talking to someone who understands.
Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline: A national listening service providing a calm, confidential space for anyone to discuss anything, including sexuality, gender identity, and mental health.
akt (The Albert Kennedy Trust): Supports LGBTQ+ young people aged 16-25 in the UK who are facing or experiencing homelessness or living in a hostile environment.
Galop: The UK’s LGBT+ anti-abuse charity, providing support for people who have experienced hate crime, domestic abuse, or sexual violence.
True allyship: The practice of actively and consistently supporting a community you’re not part of – is not passive. It’s a process of learning, listening, and showing up. By understanding the context of minority stress and being mindful of these unique challenges, you elevate your practice from simply being a first aider to being a truly effective, compassionate, and informed one.
This Pride month, let’s commit to carrying this awareness forward in every course we teach and every conversation we have.
What are your thoughts? Anything to add or more tips to share? Please use the comments section below
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