At this time of year when we're bombarded with scenes of togetherness, belonging, and loving family and friends, it's important to remember that for some this can be a time of stress, loneliness, and depression. The holiday season can bring reminders of what's absent or lost in our lives �" a perfect partner, loving friends, and connection with our families of origin. For too many in the LGBTQ community, the holidays amplify the feelings of rejection we deal with year-round.
In the past, many within our community have been reluctant to talk about how mental health issues affect us. As an oppressed group, these facts have historically been used to justify discrimination against our community. However, current research helps makes it clear that mental health problems within the LGBTQ community are linked to the stresses of living within an unequal society. In America, health disparity research clearly demonstrates that groups experiencing oppression and rejection have comparatively poorer mental and physical health. For instance, African Americans are more likely to have heart disease, diabetes, and other health problems. It is likely that these disparities are related to pressures of living in an unaccepting society. Similarly, as LGBTQ people it should not be surprising that those of us who have experienced rejection, negative judgment, and exposure to stigma may wind up dealing with physical and mental health issues. A substantial body of mental health research reveals that rates of depression, substance abuse, suicide and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms occur at higher rates within our LGBTQ community. For instance, the San Francisco-based Family Acceptance Project's research has shown that queer young adults who come from rejecting homes are eight times more likely to have attempted suicide by the age of 25 than those from accepting homes. Rejected youth are also at increased risk for substance abuse and contracting HIV.
On the positive side, social research also shows that connection to others helps improve lives, even for those who encounter rejection. What ultimately matters is that we all find ways to resist stigma and rejection. It's not a new concept. The Stonewall-era LGBT community understood the destructive impact of stigma on our lives. This is why our community's early advocacy efforts focused on removing homosexuality as a mental health disorder, and why we call our annual parades and festivals Pride events. Collective pride is a crucial antidote to stigma and shame. Efforts to eradicate LGBTQ discrimination are essential. It is just as important that we create individual strategies to resist stigma and build an LGBTQ community that truly cares for one another.
What can you do if you find yourself dealing with feelings of depression and isolation? Below are four strategies that can help fight depression and lessen feelings of loneliness:
Resources and support are also available from many LGBTQ organizations across the Bay Area. Community-based LGBTQ groups offering support include: the San Francisco LGBT Community Center; the Pacific Center in Berkeley; Spectrum in Marin and Napa counties; the Lighthouse in Hayward; the Billy DeFrank Center in San Jose; and the Rainbow Community Center in Contra Costa County. The mission for each of these groups is to serve their communities. I'm thankful for the opportunity the Bay Area Reporter has given me to highlight the services of RCC.
RCC has grown from a small startup to an agency offering a host of mental health services and support groups designed to promote community and reduce feelings of isolation. We provide activities for youth, seniors, people on the trans spectrum, for people with HIV, and more. Our low-cost counseling program treats individuals, couples, and families and also accepts Medi-Cal. RCC also provides support and education for parents and families of LGBTQ youth including programs designed to prevent bullying and suicide among those youth. Everything Under the Rainbow, RCC's thrift shop, opened for business last spring. Its goals are to provide support and job training for gender-variant youth who often can't find work in their local communities. You can learn more about the RCC online through our website (www.rainbowcc.org).
At the RCC, our year-end campaign �" Transforming Lives �" is currently under way. On our website and Facebook pages we have included stories about the ways members of our community are coming together to help improve their lives and the services available in our communities. I hope that during this holiday season you can find a way to connect with others and that throughout the coming year we all can work together to build healthier communities.
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Ben-David Barr, MSW, Ph.D., is the executive director of the Rainbow Community Center in Concord, California.