Mental illness is common in the United States, with nearly 20% of adults living with some type of mental illness, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. It is even more common among the LGBTQ+ community, with over 39% of people who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual reporting that they have a mental illness, according to Mental Health America.
“Although being LGBTQ+ is absolutely not a mental illness, many LGBTQ+ people experience mental health struggles,” according to Mental Health America.
These struggles are ones that many people have, regardless of sexual orientation or identity. Unfortunately, lack of support from family and friends is a major struggle, but unsupportive friends are not friends, and family will need to figure it out.
Because of the mental health hurdles facing those who identify as LGBTQ+, they are at a higher risk of suicide. In fact, 40% of transgender adults have attempted suicide in their lifetime, compared to less than 5% of the general U.S. population, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.
Read more at ABC7Amarillo.com.
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