The Mental Health of LGBTQIA+ Population

Sexuality and gender identity are crucial aspects of human personal identity and experience. Both significantly affect the individual self-perception, any personal belief, thinking, social being, and connections with the family and community. Sexual variations (e.g., LGBTQIA+: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual) are common expressions of sexuality beyond the binary model based on the heteronormative conception. Also, gender identity may be not aligned with the sex assigned at birth (biological) and this may lead to specific health needs among persons requiring an affirmative trail of their own gender identity. Non-binary expressions of gender and sexuality are often associated with variable social stigma and oppression with consequent psychosocial distress and mental health issues (including depression, anxiety, adjustment disorders, eating disorders, substance abuse as well as non-suicidal self-injury) for variants people experiencing minority stress. Minority stress may include any experienced childhood adverse event, non-acceptance in the family, school, peers-group, and workplaces. Clinicians and psychiatrists need to consider these specific health and mental health needs as well as psychotherapies should be focused on affirmative approaches. In addition, educational interventions aimed at contrasting social and cultural oppression should be encouraged in order to reduce the impact of minority stress on LGBTQIA+ people and their psychological burden.