This Mental Health Awareness Week we want to acknowledge the group that is affected by mental illnesses the most: the LGBTQ+ Community.
Did you know? – Nearly 1 in 5 transgender students experience bullying on a weekly (or more) basis – this is 5 times higher than cis-gendered students. – 20% of transgender people report current suicidal ideation. – 84% of transgender people have considered suicide. – 50% of transgender people have attempted suicide at least once. The average age for first suicide attempts is 16 years of age. – Transgender people are four times more likely to be diagnosed with depression.
How can you help people in the LGBTQ+ Community? – Listen to them. – Support them. – Show them compassion. – Treat them as you would like to be treated. – Use their correct pronouns: She/her, He/him or They/them.
Featured is a Zapotec woman in Juchitán de Zaragoza in southern Mexico. Zapotecs are one of several societies that believe in a ‘third gender’ – people who are born male but who adopt roles and identities associated with women. Māori are also an indigenous society that embrace LGBTQ. Their term ‘Whakawahine’ describes someone born with a male body who has a female gender identity and their term ‘Tangata ira tane’ describes someone born with a female body who has a male gender identity.
Photo: Nuria Lopez Torres.