Know your mental health
The Lesbian & Gay Foundation understand the importance of mental health and wellbeing and also recognise that sometimes there are issues and problems that may be specific to our own community.
With this in mind we have published a printed resource which gives an overview of some more common mental health problems and examines problems and issues that may affect the mental health and wellbeing of the LGB community.
We all have mental health, whether it is positive, problematic or even quite complicated.
It is likely that 1 in 4 of us will experience at least one diagnosable mental health problem at any time of our lives.
Research also suggests that lesbian, gay or bisexual people may be more likely to have mental health problems than heterosexual people
Many people believe that this is due to the effects of homophobia, prejudice and heterosexism in society.
Of course being gay is not a mental health problem itself, but mental health problems among gay people are relatively high due to things such as homophobia, bullying, feelings of isolation and loneliness and the effects many people feel from prejudice and heterosexism in society.
To help people understand how to improve their mental health The Lesbian & Gay Foundation have produced this resource aimed at supporting adults to improve or maintain our mental health and wellbeing.
This 24 page booklet aims to give some of the facts about the more common mental health problems that any one of us may come across alongside useful information about how you can take steps to look after your own wellbeing and that of people around you.
Throughout you will find useful information about where to get further help and information about topics such as:
- Coming Out
- Homophobia & bullying
- Myths about Mental Health
- Common Mental Health problems
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Self Harm
- Eating Disorders
- Diet, Nutrition & Exercise
- Assertiveness & Confidence
- Relationships
- Mental Health links
If you are concerned about your own mental health, or that of a friend or relative, asking for help is one of the best things you can do. It is always worth going to speak to a professional medical person. You could also ring one of the many helplines that are available and listed in this booklet.
“This new well being guide is a fantastic resource for our counselling clients and our counsellors. Written in a very accessible style they cover a wide range of everyday mental health problems and there is a very useful self-help link section at the back to help signpost clients to other avenues of help and support” Says LGF’s Counseling Officer Chris Murchison.
Mental Health Co-ordinator, Rachel Barlow adds.” I can really see the benefit of having such a guide available to members of the community. Often people are scared of embarrassed to ask about their worries, problems and fears so a handy guide is a great starting place for them to learn more about mental health and wellbeing and the next steps or actions that they may choose to take.”
If you would like copies of this resource for you or where you work, or to tell us about somewhere you would like to see it available, just email us for more information. We'll need to know where you want them sending to and how many you'd like.
Know Your Mental Health
Released/updated: 2010
Our wellbeing guide for Lesbian, Gay & Bisexual people.
A a printed resource which gives an overview of some more common mental health problems and examines problems and issues that may affect the mental health and wellbeing of the LGB community.