Stress and LGBTQ+ mental health
Vanessa, she/her, 23, TX
Most young people experience stress––in school, at home, with friends. However, LGBTQ+ young people experience these stresses in addition to stress from having to face homophobia and/or transphobia on a daily basis. The challenges of dealing with cis/heteronormative environments result in LGBTQ+ people experiencing extra stress.
Psychologists and researchers call the stress related to being part of a marginalized group “minority stress,” and that extra stress can come from having to survive homophobia and transphobia, along with racism, classism, ableism, sexism, and/or xenophobia.
How much stress we experience, and what tools we have to deal with that stress, has a direct impact on our mental health and how we feel. Identifying what areas in life you feel stress in is a good first step to managing that stress.
Here are some life areas where you might feel stressed:
Experiencing minority stress is not your fault! We live in a homophobic and transphobic society that places extra stress on LGBTQ+ people’s shoulders. Society has to change, not you.
What to do next
Join Q Chat Space
Are you an LGBTQ+ teen? Join one of our many moderated chats at Q Chat Space, where you can talk to other LGBTQ+ teens and trained facilitators.
