Browsing: gay and depressed

Depression can be a serious issue for anyone but homosexual depression may be an even bigger concern as gay people are at greater risk for depression and other mental illnesses than the general population. This increase in gay depression isn’t because an individual is gay, but rather because gay people live in a society that shows stigma and discrimination towards sexual minority populations. Having to continually deal with LGBTQIA+ discrimination and stigma can affect your mental health.

Many people aren’t aware of this, but homosexuals face gay mental health challenges. As the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are clear to note, “. . . the majority of MSM [men who have sex with men] are highly resilient and able to cope successfully with many negative life stressors, such as those associated with homophobia and discrimination;”¹ however, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t specific gay mental health challenges.