Question

Discuss mental health concerns for LGBTQ children and adolescents.

Answer 1

LGBTQ children and adolescents are found to experience anxiety, depression, attention defiict disorders, post traumatic stress disorder at increased rates due to low family satisfaction , cyberbullying victimization, or unmet medical needs.LGBTQ community are often isolated because of misunderstanding or even fear of them due to lack of knowledge and common sense .High rates of suicide and mental health problems are present in the minority community which needs to be understood and supported. Bullying is a common problem of adolescents and children in schools and colleges but it is still more in transgenders. Adolescents often affected by depression, anxiety , stress but when they have lack of sexual orientation or gender identity, the risk is even more significant. Constructing personal networks of support within LGBTQ community may be helpful to resolve some of the mental health issues. Mostly mental health issues arise due to loss of support and hopelessness. Social stigma , discrimination, conflict with family and rejection ,substance use and abuse, loss of institutionalized protection make LGBTQ more vulnerable to mental health concerns.

Generally adolescence is a critical period and CDC in 2012 found out that suicide is the third leading cause of death for youth ages 10 to 14 and the second leading cause of death for those ages 15 to 24 . Complete understanding of their physiology is very necessary in an individual belonging to LGBTQ community and also their peers and family .

These adolescents and children also suffer from verbal abuses, physical harassments , low self esteem, fear of identity which can only be resolved when peers and family start supporting and accepting them .

Thus they even being a minority of the population, they are human beings who deserves all legal rights and complete freedom to be happy and lead a prosperous lives.