1. Get support from the LGBT+ community
Being LGBT+ can feel lonely. This is especially true if you haven't come out to anyone or have no friends who are also LGBT+. It can be really helpful to make friends with people who are part of the LGBT+ community and talk to them about the struggles you are going through. You are not alone, and talking to others who share their experiences can provide you with a support network.
If I hadn't been exposed to people like me online, I wouldn't be sure where or who I was, and I just wouldn't be as happy and at ease in my body and mind.
Lois, 19, she/them
Where to find LGBT+ friends
- university social groups
- online community
- Local events and support groups – Pride events, book clubs, sports groups or self-organized.
- LGBT+ volunteering is a great way to help others in your community and meet other people.
- LGBT+ bars, restaurants and clubs
Be careful who you talk to online and what personal information you give them. If you have friends you talk to online, make sure you also have friends you can talk to in person.
2. Contact a support group
There are many organizations you can talk to if you are struggling for the LGBT+ community.
Talking about how I felt to people with whom I had no social or familial connections helped me get used to talking about what I had been denying and repressing for three years.
fifa
LGBT+ support groups you can go to:
Take a look at our page to find LGBT+ organizations in your area.
3. Take care of your sexual health
Our mental health is closely linked to our sexual and physical health. Make sure you take care of your mind while also taking care of your body. Get tested regularly for sexually transmitted diseases, use birth control pills and condoms, and use PrEP if needed.
4. Learn how to moderate negative news and social media content about the LGBT+ community.
It can be upsetting to see negative news and opinions about LGBT+ people in the media. Here are some ways to deal with this negative media:
It's completely okay to feel angry, upset, frustrated, or sad about what you see in the media or social media about the LGBT+ community and the opinions of some people. Bottling up how these things make you feel can have a negative impact on your mental health. Allow yourself to feel whatever emotion you are feeling.
It’s okay not to be constantly informed about everything that negatively impacts LGBT+ people. If watching or reading negative content is affecting your mental health, you should take a break.
You may need to take some time each week to update yourself with news that suits you, or you may need to unfollow social media accounts that consistently post about LGBT+ issues, anti-LGBT+ laws and protests, etc. Whatever it is, it's okay to take a step back when it comes to your health if it affects your mind. You don't have to be an activist 24/7, and if you're not completely exhausted from doomscrolling, you'll be at your best when you have to fight.
There is a lot of negativity in the world and we tend to focus more on the negative than the positive. Finding positive content that is inclusive, celebratory, and affirming can help you maintain balance. It could be social media content, or it could be movies and TV that celebrate queer love like Heartstopper or I Kissed a Boy/I Kissed a Girl.
Having an LGBT+ group or friend to talk to is really important. You are not alone in feeling angry, frustrated, or distressed, and having others around who feel the same way can help share the burden.
Doing something to help combat these stories can be a really powerful way to create change, take back control, and revive an element of hope. This could be as simple as telling others about your experience, sharing something on social media, or supporting the LGBT+ movement. Actions don't have to be big to be effective.
Surround yourself with people who support you and identify with you and your identity. Be kind to yourself and remind yourself how valid your identity is.