- Dr. Adam Jowett, Director of Psychology at The University of Law (ULaw), explains how community is key to LGBTQ+ resilience.
- Research suggests stigma and social exclusion lead to increased rates of depression and anxiety.
- Surpression of LGBTQ+ health resources in the US could have a global impact on LGBTQ+ mental health.
Censorship of LGBTQ+ issues is nothing new. Historically, governments have suppressed information about LGBTQ+ identities in various ways, from anti-LGBTQ+ curriculum laws in U.S. states to Section 28 in the UK in the 1980s to early 2000s.
Recent U.S. directives have led to the removal of LGBTQ+ health resources from public health agency websites, alarming LGBTQ+ advocacy organisations and posing a threat to LGBTQ+ health on multiple fronts.
Dr Adam Jowett, Director of Psychology at The University of Law, explains:
The suppression of LGBTQ+ health information has consequences. Removing data on LGBTQ+ health disparities hinders public health efforts to address these issues, while broader anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric further harms mental well-being. Research has shown that such rhetoric correlates with increased psychological distress, contributing to anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation.
Laws and policies that target LGBTQ+ individuals have significant mental health consequences. Studies show that legal discrimination and public debates on LGBTQ+ rights can lead to heightened stress and stigma, increasing rates of mental health issues. The more hostile the political climate, the greater the psychological toll.
Minority Stress
The minority stress model explains how stigma, discrimination, and social exclusion create additional stressors for LGBTQ+ individuals in addition to the many general stressors experienced by the general population. This heightened stress, it is argued, leads to increased rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidality.
Political discourse that delegitimises LGBTQ+ identities compounds minority stress. Research highlights that exposure to anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric correlates with higher levels of fear, self-stigma, and social isolation. The removal of LGBTQ+ health resources exacerbates these disparities by silencing critical information and discouraging public health interventions.
The issue extends beyond the United States. Major tech companies are following suit. Meta, for example, has altered its community standards to permit accusations of mental illness based on gender identity or sexual orientation. In a digital era where hostility is already rampant on social media, such policy changes could contribute to a more toxic online environment, intensifying minority stress for LGBTQ+ youth worldwide.
Community Resilience
While minority stress explains the harmful effects of discrimination, it also underscores processes of resilience to counteract stress through individual and collective coping strategies.
One way individuals can protect their mental health is by limiting exposure to harmful media. Research suggests that consuming excessive amounts of negative political discourse can worsen anxiety and distress. Setting boundaries around news consumption and curating supportive digital spaces can mitigate these effects.
Community support is one of the most powerful buffers against minority stress. LGBTQ+ organisations, advocacy groups, and social networks provide vital resources for those facing discrimination. Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ individuals with strong support systems experience lower levels of mental health distress.
Social identity plays a key role in resilience. While identifying as LGBTQ+ can make individuals vulnerable to discrimination, it also fosters solidarity, social support, and empowerment. Participating in LGBTQ+ advocacy, for instance, has been linked to greater psychological resilience and a stronger sense of agency.
If history teaches us anything, it is that LGBTQ+ communities have consistently resisted and persevered in the face of censorship and oppression. From the Stonewall uprising in 1969 and the subsequent Gay Liberation Movement to the mobilisation against Section 28 in the UK, LGBTQ+ activism has long been a driving force for change. It’s time to rise to the challenge once more.
Read more from Adam on our blog.