How to be an Ally in Mental Wellness With Our LGBTQIA+ Community
Many of us want to support and prioritize mental health for our LGBTQIA+ loved ones but may feel lost in how to do so. Wanting to learn how to support effectively is already the first step in the right direction.
If you identify as an ally (i.e,; a person, often heterosexual/cisgender, who supports the wellness and equality of LGBTQIA+ individuals and community), you can show your loved ones you care and accept them by some simple actions.
Visual Actions
Using simple visual cues to let the LGBTQIA+ community know you are a safe person or organization can go a long way in casual or initial interactions. Individuals who identify under the LGBTQIA+ umbrella regularly experience fear and discrimination, and offering a quick visual cue can help pave the way for reduced anxiety and open communication. Putting an ally sticker on your laptop or water bottle, stating your pronouns in email signatures or when meeting someone new, showing up to local Pride celebration events such as parades, fundraisers, or festivals, are very visual ways to communicate your support.
Verbal Actions
You can use your own unique voice to lift up the LGBTQIA+ community by expressing support and sharing information. Pride Month acknowledges the progress the LGBTQIA+ community has made while recognizing the individuals whose sacrifice and hard work made such progress possible. Take some time this month, in between all the celebrations for the community, to also educate yourself on how societal issues disproportionately impact the LGBTQIA+ community while also brushing up on your LGBTQIA+ terminology.
Open and Genuine Connection
Fostering a mindset of openness and genuine connection during Pride Month allows you to grow while expressing empathy and validation. When individuals experience genuine empathy and connection, it positively impacts mental wellness. Allow others to share their experiences with you – whether that’s related to discrimination and hardship or joy in being in a queer relationship. Learning about individuals’ unique experiences and well as LGBTQIA+ history, are great ways to show your mindset of openness and genuine connection.
My hope is that whether you have a friend, child, partner, acquaintance, or co-worker who is part of the queer community, this blog provides you with some easy and meaningful ways to show your support. I hope this Pride month is full of rainbows, celebrations, joy, and sense of community for you.
Resources for queer individuals/allies:
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/
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