Essay on The Mental Health of Individuals in the LGBT community

The LGBTQ community is one the communities that has been fighting for their right till the present. The L from in the LGBTQ stands for Lesbian, the G for Gay, B for bisexual, T for transgender, and the Q for queers. The term gay is meant for males that are only attracted to other males. The lesbian term is meant for females that are only attracted to other females. The bisexual term is meant for male or female that are attracted to both males and females. A transgender person can also be gay, lesbian, bisexual, etc. The term transgender includes a lot of others term; it is an umbrella term, therefore there is not one definition to really agree on (Bukhari, S., Mushtaq, H., & Aurangzaib, S. (2016), p.93). There are many more names or term that are included in the community. There are many communities in the United States that are accepting toward the LGBTQ community, and there are many communities that make it harder for the community to come out. LGBTQ community are more likely to be accepted in communities that are more comfortable to talk about sex and LGBTQ topic. The more it is talked about the more people have their own opinion, and think about what exactly is bad or good about the topic. The psychosocial and sociological aspects plays a role in how today’s society feels about the community, and how the community has been treated in the past till this day. For some people to be able to support the LGBTQ members, one has to try to see past their huge beliefs in gender

Prior to the twenty-first century, homosexuality was viewed as a mental disorder that required treatment. Both counseling and aversion therapy were exercised in attempts to “cure” individuals of their sexuality. The brutal process consisted of shock therapies, lobotomies, castrations, and drugs (Scot, 2013). A device that was commonly used was the Farrall Instrument, which functioned by showing an individual of the same sex and delivering a shock until a button was pressed to deliver another slide. The slides of the opposite sex did not deliver a shock; therefore, an association with those of the same sex would become negative and the patient receiving the treatment would become heterosexual. These practices were enacted until 1973 when the American Psychiatric Association declassified homosexuality as a mental disorder (Scot, 2013). From that point on, homosexuality increasingly grew in acceptance and still continues to do so in modern society. A variety of places that celebrate members of the LGBT community have been established to help welcome them into society, along with an improvement of the attitudes of others and their treatments towards the communities’ members. However, homophobia and the segregation of LGBT individuals still persists in modern society to prevent their integration into civilization.

This is in direct correlation with the increased probability of mental illnesses in the transgender population. Traditional views certainly do not help as many transgender citizens are told they are “sick” because of their difference with many religious and personal beliefs. A study from Boston published earlier this year in the Journal of Adolescent Health, reported that transsexual youth had two to three times increased risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, self-harm without lethal intent, and both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment. These statistics show the clear consequences of mental health transgenders are facing if transgender rights continues to be unregulated. It is essential that the federal government steps in to take action in order to make sure things do not continue on this downwards path.

Homophobia has been an uprising issue since the 80s, and it needs to be stopped before it gets more out of hand. Homophobia has been the motive behind various crimes; in just the US alone. One of the various crimes was the Pulse Club shooting in Orlando.(Attaiah) wrote after an interview with the shooter's father, “Mateenn(shooter) had seen two men kissing and was instantly enraged by what he saw.” The fact that someone's sexual preference is the cause of a mass shooting shows how homophobia is a major problem here in the US. Another issue with homophobia is that it is driving a vast amount of teens to suicide. Suicide rates have increased drastically for members of the LGBTQ community. (WONG) “Suicide rates amongst gay youths are devastating. With suicide becoming a far too common way “out” of unbearable homophobic condition.” Not only suicide in general, but there has been a trend of gay youths killing themselves because it is the only way “out”. Fortunately, a man by the name of Dan Savage is trying to help with that. He has created a project by the name of “It gets better project” which is for gay, lesbian, or Transgenders to have a “safe place”.

The members of the LGBT community have struggled a very long time through many obstacles and a lot of hatred in attempt to be accepted by the people of their community. Recently, America passed a law that made gay marriage legal, making progress on the community’s fight to abolish homophobia. Unfortunately, what many people don’t know, homosexuality still very, very illegal in 76 countries, punishments being imprisonment or worse. All around the world, 47.9% of LGBT males and 72.9% of LGBT females think about committing suicide, 29% of LGBT males and 52.4% of LGBT females attempt suicide, and 1 out of every 25 LGBT males and 2 out of every 25 of LGBT females who attempt at suicide succeed at it. Even though both Equiano’s and Wilson’s battles are over, this battle seems like it is just

Throughout history, society’s views of homosexuality and of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) have changed. These views have changed how the members of this community feel about their personal identity as a whole. Over the last ten years, homosexuality and the LGBTQ community have become more accepted in society. In fact, a recent victory for the LGBTQ community occurred in June of 2015 when gay marriage become legalized in all fifty states. Despite the immense torture that members of the LGBTQ have received over decades, they are slowly becoming more accepted in today’s society. As society begins to become more tolerant with different ideals, the new and younger generations will continue to become more accepting of the people who identify as members of the LGBTQ community. These members will become more comfortable in their own skin and be allowed the same opportunities so other members of society.

Many social workers have had minimal training and preparation in servicing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning (LGBTQ) clients. It is not uncommon or unlikely that even the most seasoned practitioner will display some form of negative bias or utilize misinformation with assisting these clients. Because the Universe and the norms are steadily changing and evolving we as social workers must do the same to better assist our clients especially our oppressed populations. This research paper will provide an in depth look at the LGBTQ community, in particular the adolescent victimization of LGBTQ students in a school setting. Research suggests that youth who identify as LGBTQ are at greater risk of suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts,

The article "Gay Teens Are at Risk," was written by Paula Schleis and Kim Hone-McMahan and was published in 2004 in Teens at Risk. This article describes how society is forcing the adolescents in the LGBT community into depression and causing them to attempt suicide. According to the article, gay teens risk loosing friends and loved ones if they 'come out of the closet' and thus either try to fruitlessly hide their sexuality or attempt suicide. Additionally, the article states that one-third of teen suicides are committed by homosexuals because of homophobia. With this article's use of pathos and heart-string-pulling language gain empathy and attention from their readers. Though neither authors have a personal background or connection to the

Religion and acceptance have a large impact on people in the LGBTQ communities. All anyone has ever wanted was to be accepted for who they are by their friends and family. When this doesn’t happen it can cause stress and thoughts of suicide. If the stress of not being accepted continues there is a possibility that there may be a loss not only with their LGBTQ identity but their spiritual identity as well. Loss of Religious or Spiritual Identities Amoung [sic] the LGBT Population by Andrew William Wood and Abigail Holland Conley ;and The Role of Religion and Stress in Sexual Identity and Mental Health Amoung [sic] Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth by Mathew L. J. Page, Kristin M. Lindahl, and Neena M. Malik are two articles out of the many that

In addition to social persecution, people who identify on the LGBTQ spectrum are at a higher risk of experiencing violence In 2010, the FBI reported in a hate crime statistics report that 19.3% of hate crimes in that year were motivated by a sexual orientation bias. Based on national statistics, more than 50% of transgendered youth will attempt suicide at least once by the age of 20 “Statistics About Youth Suicide”. These numbers are shocking, and it’s baffling that these youth have to live under the pressure of violence and mental illness all while being barred from the rights they

There is a need for increased culturally meaningful mental health services specific to the LGBTQ community. Members of the LGBTQ community are at increased risk for a number of mental health problems and

There have been many studies on mental health in the LGBT community. With more people being open about their sexual orientation, the LGBT community has become a bigger target for those individuals who create difference between groups to justify discrimination of a particular group. The discrimination towards the LGBT community has caused problems for individuals in the community, mental health being among the biggest problem.

The lack of specialised care options available for Indigenous LGBTQI+ individuals is substantial, and this lack of care has resulted in a severe mental health crisis throughout the community. Suicide, self-harm, depression and anxiety are central effects of this mental health crisis, and impact deeply on the lives of those who suffer from them.

Multiple scholars have shown that the LGBTQ community is at an increased level of psychological distress which is caused by the stigma and discrimination that society and the media put on this group (Rostosky et al., 2009, Levitt et al., 2009, Mustanksi, Garofalo, & Emerson, 2010, Baams, Grossman, & Russell, 2015, & Rostosky & Riggle, 2011). With this increased stress, psychological ramifications can result more frequently compared to individuals who do not suffer from this stress. These ramifications can be seen in higher levels of mental disorders such as depression and anxiety and unfortunately can be correlated with higher levels of suicidal behavior (Mustanksi et al., 2010). The sudden increase in depression and suicidal behaviors is most prevalent in the youth of the LGBT community today, although college students as well as adults have also reported higher levels of mental disorders (Mustanski et al., 2010).

There are many minorities in the United States of America making it one of the largest melting pots in the world. Unfortunately, due to the vast variety of people, there are many minorities that lack the proper access to healthcare resources that cater to their healthcare needs both mentally and physically. The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community, also known as the LGBT community, face many hurdles when it comes to receiving the proper healthcare. They also encompass many different races, religions, ethnicities and social classes. According to a recent national and state-level population-based surveys, “8 million adults in the US are lesbian, gay, or bisexual, comprising 3.5% of the adult population” (Gates, 2011). Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people face many challenges and barriers accessing the proper health services. Many of the challenges the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community faces stems from