The relationship between the LGBTQ+ community and mental health is one with a long history and, in our opinion, a long road ahead. While we see progress such as the Office for National Statistics releasing data linking sexual orientation with self-harm and suicide rates for the first time, we also continue to see shortcomings.
One such example is Meta updating their hate speech guidelines to permit users to refer to LGBTQ+ people as mentally ill based on their gender identity or sexuality earlier this year. The guidance states that ‘We do allow allegations of mental illness or abnormality when based on gender or sexual orientation, given political and religious discourse about transgenderism and homosexuality.’. A platform this large has a responsibility to understand the possible repercussions of this regression in acceptable language.
We’re here to highlight the journey the LGBTQ+ community has been on to dispel this line of thinking and to provide context to why this kind of speech is especially harmful. We also want to highlight the challenges still being faced in mental health care as part of our ongoing commitment to amplifying visibility of opportunities to improve lives.
Table of contents
- Historical links between being LGBTQ+ and mental health
- Classification of LGBTQ+ identities as mental illness in history
- The LGBTQ+ community and mental health concerns
- Ongoing treatment of LGBTQ+ people in healthcare
- What is being done?
- Why this matters to us
Historical links between being LGBTQ+ and mental health
As early as the 1800s, we see evidence of laws in Britain that criminalised homosexuality entirely such as in the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861. Initially, some arguments against criminalisation of homosexuality stemmed from suggestions that it was a ‘degenerative disorder’ such as in the writings of Richard von Krafft-Ebing in 1886. This could be seen as a step forward in the work to decriminalise sexuality, but has lasting effects on the perception of the LGBTQ+ community.
In 1899, German psychiatrist Albert von Schrenck-Notzing claimed he had turned a gay man straight through hypnosis. This is noted as the origin of conversion therapy in psychiatry as a ‘cure’ to homosexuality, as it was being viewed as a medical condition. It is important to note that conversion therapy is still legally practiced in the UK despite evidence of its harm.
Classification of LGBTQ+ identities as mental illness in history
These early views laid the groundwork for how LGBTQ+ identities were systematically pathologised in formal psychiatric diagnoses. Psychologists such as Charles Socarides (1922–2005) dedicated their careers to the belief that homosexuality was a medical condition, actively countering later efforts to remove its classification as a mental illness. Homosexuality was formally classified as a mental disorder in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in 1948, and the original issue of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) in 1952.
Homosexuality continued to be classified among mental disorders until 1973 in the DSM-II, and 1975 in the ICD-9. While this marked the end of homosexuality itself being classified as a mental disorder, it wasn’t until 2022 that the ICD-11 and DSM-5 did not include a single category that could be applied to people based on their sexual orientation. The classification of Trans identities was changed from gender identity disorder to being referred to as gender dysphoria in 2022 also, a step which aimed to destigmatise trans people while preserving a diagnosis so that medical insurance would still cover gender affirming treatment.
The LGBTQ+ community and mental health concerns
Not everyone in the LGBTQ+ community will experience mental health challenges, but research shows that issues like depression, self-harm, substance use, and suicidal thoughts can be more common among LGBTQ+ people.
A study by Stonewall found that 52% of LGBTQ+ people experienced depression, one in eight LGBTQ+ people aged 18 to 24 had attempted suicide, and gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to attempt suicide across their lifetime than the rest of the population.
This increased likelihood of facing mental health challenges creates a need for an inclusive approach to care and makes addressing issues even more urgent for those within the LGBTQ+ community.
Ongoing treatment of LGBTQ+ people in healthcare
Despite an increased incidence of mental health concerns, the LGBTQ+ community were more likely to report unmet mental healthcare needs. They were also more likely to report facing a major incident of discrimination. Around one in eight LGBTQ+ people have reported experiencing unequal treatment from healthcare staff based on their identity. One in seven have avoided seeking treatment for fear of facing discrimination. One in twenty LGBT people have even been pressured to access services to question or change their sexual orientation when accessing healthcare services.
What is being done?
At present we are seeing some progress, such as that mentioned by the Office for National Statistics, in developing our understanding of the issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community as a society. There are ongoing initiatives in the NHS to improve education around meeting needs and improving care, with research informing the recommendations given to services. The government are also working to develop programmes in support of the LGBTQ+ community.
Why this matters to us
As recent data has shown, LGBTQ+ individuals in the UK are still disproportionately affected by mental health challenges, including higher rates of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and difficulties accessing appropriate care. This makes the work of inclusive, compassionate services more important than ever.
At Clinical Partners, we're committed to being part of the solution. By offering accessible, affirming mental health support tailored to everyone's needs, we aim to create a safe space where LGBTQ+ people feel seen, heard, and supported.
This Pride Month, we honour the progress that’s been made and our commitment to shine a light on inequalities that still exist. This is our promise to help shape a future where everyone can access the support they need to thrive—no matter their gender, identity, or orientation.
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