June 2026
June is Pride month, an annual celebration honouring the history and achievements of the LGBTQ+ community and the ongoing struggle for equality. At Pathfinder West Sussex, we’re exploring some of the mental health challenges faced by the community and signposting local and national organisations that can offer support
This year’s Pride theme is "our voices, our future", which aims to amplify community voices and protect LGBTQ+ rights in the face of adversity. It’s a declaration of the LGBTQ+ community’s resilience and a call to action for the ongoing struggle for equal rights and acceptance.
Equal rights also means being treated equitably and fairly when it comes to mental health care, that is, providing safe, affirming and culturally responsive environments for LGBTQ+ mental health.
Being LGBTQ+ doesn’t cause mental health problems. But there are difficult things LGBTQ+ people might experience - such as discrimination, rejection, homophobia, transphobia or difficult experiences coming out - that mean they are more likely to have difficulties with their mental health. Rates of depression, self-harm and suicide ideation are disproportionately high among the LGBTQ+ community, with younger people and trans individuals experiencing the most severe challenges.
