Research claims nine out of 10 LGBT people in Ireland struggle with mental health issues
It's claimed 90 per cent of Irish LGBT young people face an ongoing struggle with mental health.
New research from 'BeLong To' shows that nearly half of those surveyed feel reluctant to open up about how they feel.
A campaign is being launched today to promote positive mental health for young people.
Speaking about the campaign, Moninne Griffith, BeLonG To Youth Services Executive Director, said:
Once we learned that 80% of LGBTI+ youth are afraid to reach out for help when struggling with their mental health, the necessity of the ‘Better Out Than In’ campaign became glaringly apparent. We know that anxiety and depression can form part of the LGBTI+ youth experience, and we want to send a message to LGBTI+ youth that this doesn’t mean they just have to accept it and struggle alone. Taking the brave step of opening up to someone you trust about your worries and fears is worth it
"In the same way that coming out as LGBTI+ and accepting yourself can be a freeing experience, so too is talking to someone about your mental health. When worries and fears have nowhere to go, they bounce around inside your head and get amplified more until they become larger than life. It’s when you share these thoughts that you realise they are far ‘Better Out Than In’. With this campaign, we’re raising awareness that getting help is not something to be feared, it is life saving and life affirming and driving home a vital message – that life opens up when they do.”
