Youth of the LGBTQ community experience greater encounters with not only health risks, but also violence and bullying, due to their sexual orientation, self-identification, and lack of support from institutions in society.
Due to society's tendency to discriminate against non-heterosexual sexual orientations and identities, members of the LGBTQ community are 3 times more likely to face mental health disorders.
[1] For instance, the constant fear of not being accepted after coming out to one's community can lead to an anxiety disorder, depression, PTSD, suicidal thoughts, or substance abuse.
[1] According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) LGBTQ teens, in particular, “are 6 times more likely to experience symptoms of depression” than their heterosexual peers as they are just beginning to navigate how to come out to friends, family, and other associates, while still developing into an adult.
[5] These results were successful in pointing out these vulnerabilities of LGB students, however, about 514,000 students included in the survey were not sure of their “sexual identity.”[3] According to the CDC, there are a couple of things the school can do that are evidence and research based to help the school become a healthy place for all children, and those ways are: encourage respect for all children, no matter what their ethnicity is or sexual orientation and ban bullying, harassment, or violence.
Then identify "safe places" on campus for the students like a counselor's office or a designated classroom where students of the LGBTQ community can find support and feel safe, and ensure the health curriculum and sex education is up to date regarding the LGBTQ community and have HIV, STD, and pregnancy prevention information that is relevant to them.
[4] Another survey conducted by the Human Rights Campaign titled, “Growing Up LGBT in America,” acknowledges the vulnerabilities faced by about 10,000 LGBTQ youth from the age of 13 to 17.
[6] On top of this 73% of youth surveyed admitted to being more honest about their identity online and 26% identified their largest “problems” as being related to being out and accepted at home and/or school.
[8] People who classify as a sexual minority have been shown to have significantly higher rates of underlying conditions that can lead to severe COVID-related illnesses and death.
[9] High rates of mental health conditions in sexual and/or gender minorities are likely to lead to poor COVID-related physical outcomes, healthcare utilization, and treatment adherence.
[15] Transgender individuals are victimized at higher rates than lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, and they also have worse mental health outcomes.
[16] Parents are also encouraged to take a proactive approach and let their children know they are loved regardless of the sexual orientation and gender identity.
A 2-year study on gender dysphoric adolescents showed that puberty blockers significantly decreased depression and increased overall mental functioning.
[21] Also, significantly lower likelihood of life-time suicidal ideation was found in transgender adults who had been treated with puberty blockers in adolescence compared to those who had not.
This can take place in many ways that include, but are not limited, to social media announcements and coming out to close family members.
Because of current technology platforms that allow for social networking, much of National Coming Out Day can be observed on sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
In one instance, an individual explained that through "using social media I was able to discover my identity and learn that I am not weird or gross or disgusting for how I feel" (Fischer 3).