The importance of holistic mental health support for LGBTQ+ communities across London

We spoke to Claire McComb, Director of Mental Health Services at elop, an LGBTQ+ mental health charity, about the mental health challenges faced by LGBTQ+ communities and the support available this Pride month and beyond.

Claire McComb

Director of Mental Health Services at elop

elop is a London-based mental health charity that provides a range of social, emotional and support services to LGBTQ+ communities across Greater London and the Essex border. elop’s focus on mental health includes offering low-cost counselling, individual and group mental health support with additional support for young people aged 12+. We take a holistic approach to mental health support as feeling safe, socially connected and having a sense of community are important to our mental health and sense of belonging.

We know that navigating life as an LGBTQ+ person brings unique challenges, and it’s important to acknowledge that. People who use our services at elop have often said that they don’t know why they are feeling the way that they are. Whilst many have had adverse experiences, such as discrimination or LGBTQ+ hate, others haven’t – their journey of self-discovery and coming out was relatively easy. Yet they still experience negative thoughts and feelings, such as low self-worth, low mood or anxiety.

Both in the UK and on a global level, we’re seeing a surge in anti-trans politics and narratives which is inevitably having a big impact on mental health and wellbeing across the trans community and beyond. The constant questioning of the very existence of trans individuals, denial of rights and promotion of misinformation creates a hostile environment where prejudice and discrimination are almost encouraged. Whilst targeting the trans community, such rhetoric fosters an environment of fear and division that impacts upon all LGBTQ+ communities. The constant vigilance and exposure to negativity can lead to increased rates of anxiety, depression, stress and other mental health concerns.

One recommendation that I have is to look at work such as the Minority Stress Theory, developed in 2003 by Ilan Meyer, an American psychiatric epidemiologist, to offer a framework to understand why LGBTQ+ people are disproportionately over-represented in poor health and mental health statistics. Minority Stress Theory suggests that as members of minority groups, LGBTQ+ communities experience unique stressors due to stigma and discrimination from others due to our LGBTQ+ identity that can lead to negative health outcomes, particularly in terms of mental health and wellbeing.

This could be either a direct experience of stigma and discrimination, ranging from microaggressions to overt hostility that can chip away at our sense of self-worth; an anticipation of stigma and discrimination, which can be exhausting and anxiety-inducing; internalised stigma breeding self-doubt or shame; or concealment of your true identity to avoid potential discrimination, which can be isolating and emotionally draining.

Many LGBTQ+ individuals experience these stressors on a daily basis, often subconsciously. By understanding these stressors and actively challenging them, society can offer a more inclusive and supportive environment for LGBTQ+ communities where everyone feels safe and accepted.

Having a sense of belonging and strong community connections have a powerful positive effect of the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ communities. These connections foster resilience and reduce isolation, providing space to share experiences, find solidarity and draw strength from collective support.

Services provided by organisations such as elop are vital. We provide a safe space where service users feel valued and supported, with access to a wide range of services that are either free or low-cost. These include: counselling; individual and group support; and a range of social events to connect and build friendships.

For up-to-date information about the range of services available at elop, contact us at info@elop.org. at elop, contact us at info@elop.org . Alternatively, you can contact the service teams directly using the details below:

For counselling: email counselling@elop.org

For individual or group mental health support: email mentalhealth@elop.org

For more information on forthcoming events and our group spaces: email events@elop.org

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