Starting from the seventies of the last century, the cultural patterns relating to sexuality and gender identity have started to suffer a slow evolution, which translates today into LGBTQ+ community. All people are part of it with an identity sexual “non -compliant” to culturally shared models. The LGBTQIA+ community represents about 11% of the world adult population and about 7% of the Italian adult population (data: ipsos, 2024).
The month of Pride therefore represents a precious opportunity to reflect on the mental well -being of this important slice of the population, often compromised by discrimination and difficulties. In this article we explore some key data on the LGBTQIA+community, the challenges faced by the same and the resources that can be useful to deal with them, as an inclusive and conscious psychological support.
LGBTQIA+ community and mental health: some key data
- In 2025, Italy is positioned in 35 placed on 49 countries monitored regarding the Recognition of the rights of LGBTQIA+ peoplewith a percentage of 24.41% (Rainbow Map, 2025).
- The 32.6% of people LGBTQIA+ has undergone discrimination During the year (Gay Help Line, 2024).
- The coming out in the family He determined a violent response from relatives in 32.3% of the total cases (Gay Help Line, 2024).
- About 1 adults out of 6 tends a avoid the use of health services often due to previous experiences of discrimination (UNAR, 2022)
- The prevalence of major depression in LGBTQIA+ people is about 32.2% (Hong Cai et al., 2024).
- LGBTQIA+ people also have one greater prevalence of comorbilitiesthat is, the simultaneous presence of two or more disorders (Wang J et. Al, 2007).
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LGBTQIA+community: difficulties and discrimination
Despite social progress, many LGBTQIA+ people continue to live Experiences of exclusion e stigma which can negatively affect mental health.
As for the recognition of rightsfor example, it is estimated that the percentage of the rights of LGBTQIA+ people recognized in Italy is 24.41% – a percentage point less than 2024—, positioning itself in the 35 placed on 49 monitored countries (Rainbow Map, 2025). While the average of the European Union is 51.13%.
According to Gay Help Line report on the data collected in 2023 (Gay Help Line, 2024), 32.6% of LGBTQIA+ people underwent discrimination during the year, with 64% of these episodes that took place in workplace and 23.6% in Healthcare Sector. From the same relationship, the coming out in the family He determined a violent response from relatives in 32.3% of the total cases.
Finally, according to what reported in the national LGBT strategy+ 2022–2025 (UNAR, 2022), a significant part of the LGBTQIA+ population – an adult out of six – tends to avoid the use of health servicesoften due to previous experiences of discrimination. A criticality also highlighted by the guidelines of the Istituto Superiore di Sanità (ISS, 2023), which highlight the substantial difficulties that they encounter in accessing basic and specialist health care, thus signaling one persistent disparity in the equity of care.
The phenomena of discrimination and the need to belong
The phenomena of homophobia, bifia and transfobia and the experiences that derive from being part of a social minority, can feed the need to belong To a group, which gives the opportunity to feel socially accepted and to reduce the feeling of isolation and solitude. Belonging to a group also facilitates the development of greater resilience with respect to the impact of the stressful life factors, strengthening the skills of coping (the way people respond to adversity) and favoring a general increase in self -esteem.
In addition to the condition of belonging to a minority, LGBT+ people often face delicate events:
- the moments of coming out or outing with family and friends;
- any relational difficulties that may encounter for their orientation;
- The complexity that implies the choice to undertake paths of change or sexual transition.
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This kind of events and their consequences can often be a source of strong feelings of anxiety and, sometimes, of Depressive experiences.
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6 tips to face discrimination and find an emotional balance
Face discrimination in different areas of life can have a Deep impact on emotional well -being For LGBTQIA+people, who often find their experiences of exclusion, stigma or marginalization. The psychological consequences They can include chronic stress, social isolation and a reduction in the quality of life.
However, there are effective strategies to protect one’s mental health and strengthen personal resilience such as:
1. Recognize and accept one’s identity
Recognizing and accepting your identity is a fundamental step. Internal validation and self -acceptance helps to build a solid base to face external challenges.
Acceptance is a complex and deep inner pathwhich requires courage and willingness to confront one’s emotions. To really be able to accept yourself, it is often necessary to reopen past wounds, face pains and suffering that we had buried and that, by resurfaced, can generate frustration and loss. It is a delicate process, but fundamental to find authenticity and inner peace.
2. Recognize and validate emotions
It is also important to give space to your emotional reactions, such as anger, sadness or frustration, without guiding. Emotions are legitimate responses to an injustice and represent a fundamental mechanism for theadaptation And survival. Emotional self -awareness is therefore a first step in being able to face stressful situations related to discrimination.
3. Building a support network
Saying support groups, LGBTQIA+ or peer associations can provide comfort, solidarity and tools to better face discrimination. The LGBT National Strategy+ 2022–2025 (UNAR, 2022) promotes the role of territorial and associative networks in the fight against marginalization and promoting well -being. These support spaces allow you to share experiences and strategies of coping.
Surround themselves with people who respect and enhance your identity creates a emotionally protected environmentuseful for strengthening self -esteem and self -confidence.
4. Practice self -care and self -compression
Taking care of yourself is not an selfish gesture, but an act necessary of respect towards one’s own well -being. The self-compression implies the ability to deal with kindness, understanding and patience in times of difficulty, rather than resorting to self-criticism or judgment. It is a way to recognize that suffering is part of human experience and that we deserve support, even by ourselves.
Practices of self-care like the MindfulnessThe Journalingexercise or simple moments of rest can help:
- encourage inner calm,
- manage the stress and anxiety deriving from experiences of discrimination,
- elaborate complex emotions and make sense of their experiences,
- rebalancing energy and maintaining psycho-physical well-being,
- release endorphins, improving mood and mental health,
- promote awareness and acceptance of oneself.
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5. Find professional support
A psychologist or psychotherapist with training and sensitivity on LGBTQIA+ themes can help elaborate trauma, face different psychological disorders and challenges, and strengthen emotional resilience. Psychological support to LGBTQIA+ people therefore presents itself as a precious tool to face the challenges of the community.
Discrimination, prejudice and lack of social support for the LGBTQIA+ community can, for example, contribute significantly to the high levels of mental stress. Ilan H. Meyer, one of the best known scholars who dealt with the theme of minority stresssays that:
“Stigma, prejudice and discrimination create a hostile and stressful social environment that causes mental health problems.” – Ilan H. Meyer.
Furthermore, according to several studies (Hong Cai et al., 2024), LGBTQIA+ people have a high prevalence of major depression – about 32.2% – and also a greater prevalence of comorbidity of two or more disorders (Wang J et. Al, 2007). These data highlight the importance of providing prevention and adequate treatments to the vulnerable members of this community.
6. Denounce and inform whenever possible
Last, but not less important, reporting discriminatory episodes, even anonymously, can contribute to sensitizing institutions and protect their own and others’ rights. Use institutional channels to report discrimination also contributes to data collection and contrast initiatives.
The psychological intervention
The purpose of psychological interventions is that of recognize and support The discomfort of patients belonging to sexual minorities, creating a climate of welcome, acceptance and absence of hetero-sexism, which threatens the therapeutic alliance and the effectiveness of an intervention.
Particular attention is aimed at support of teenagerswhich are in a phase of the life cycle in itself criticizes and often a source of discomfort and confusion. The comparison with one’s “atypical” sexual orientation could cause a sense of strangling compared to the group of peers, normally an important point of reference and source of identification, and could bring out in the boys:
- the fear of refusal;
- isolation;
- Anger and anguish.
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A psychological path therefore becomes the opportunity to regain trust in themselves, to be able to face these delicate phases of their development.
In the case of individuals adultthe psychological intervention could instead focus on theacceptance of one’s sexual orientation as well as on problems of the sexual sphere and related to the personal and relational lifestyle, which can often be overcome by promoting greater self -awareness and working on personal self -esteem.
Resources and support centers in Italy
Fortunately, in Italy there are numerous realities that offer psychological and social support to people LGBTQIA+, such as Gay Help Line, Arcigay, Agedo, Mit and many others that provide consultancy, listening groups and legal assistance. Several online psychology platforms, such as Unebravo, also offer the opportunity to find professionals with specific skills in the LGBTQIA+field. Knowing and accessing these resources can represent A concrete first step towards well -being.
