June is LGBTQ+ Pride Month

Pride Month (LGBTQ+ Pride Month) is celebrated annually in June to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots and efforts to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) Americans.

The LGBTQ+ population is at a higher risk than the heterosexual, cisgender population for suicidal ideations and suicide attempts.

High school students who identify as lesbian, gay or bisexual are more than four times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to their heterosexual peers.

40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide in their lifetime, compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population.

It is important that we understand and recognize barriers the LGBTQ+ population face when it comes to mental health treatment. Many individuals do not have the support of family or friends and that can cause them to feel alone and depressed. There is a lack of resources and information available to all individuals on treating metal health disorders within the LGBTQ+ population, but in recent years local and national programs have emerged to help break the stigma and provide much needed help.

Some resources that are available.

Locally: https://pridecenterterrehaute.org/

Nationally:

https://mhanational.org/lgbtq/pride

https://nami.org/Your-Journey/Identity-and-Cultural-Dimensions/LGBTQ