Members of the Lesbian Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community experiences high vulnerability in the social environment. Daily, they face prejudices and abuse. Research shows that these people are at a higher risk of depression, anxiety, and other mental-related conditions. These people can also get involved in substance or different forms of addiction.
Support groups come in handy to help them face the challenges. These groups teach LGBT individuals to accept themselves and fit in the community. These support groups do not just create a common meeting ground for the minority group, but also encourages society to accept them by freely interacting with them without discrimination and abuse. Here is the information you need to know concerning LGBT support groups.
What Do LGBT Support Groups Offer?
Support groups help individuals deal with all problems related to being LGBT. They deal with sexuality, questioning issues, and how to come out at work or even at school. Also, they help their members to handle gay relationships.
Support groups usually do this by using people who are actual LGBT members and not necessarily professionals. The approach allows LGBT people to support one another, deal with challenges, and boost each other’s confidence.
LGBT support groups for relatives of LGBT people may seem to be a new concept to you, but they exist and play an essential role in showing support to the LGBT. Family members can gain information and help their loved ones in facing challenges. Parents are also educated o how to raise such children and deal with society’s expectations of marriage.
LGBT support groups are usually targeted towards a specific group of people. You may find LGBT groups for; teens, university students, adults, and relatives and friends groups.
Some of the popular LGBT support groups
The LGBT Foundation Group
The foundation was established in 1975 and currently has numerous support groups for people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. They believe in a fair society and that LGBT people can achieve their potential. It facilitates support groups in the heart of Manchester’s Gay Village.
LGBTribe Group
This support group is online-based and involves peer to peer support group for the people living as LGBT. Members of this support group enjoy access to recent social network technologies. Additionally, they can participate in the forum and chat room and use wellness trackers and friendly reminders.
LGBT support groups can also be found through organizations that offer mental health like the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, and The Association of Gay and Lesbian Psychiatrists.
The LGBT friends and family support groups can be found in Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG)
Conclusion
LGBT individuals should be treated just like straight people. Society has always stigmatized LGBT people, leading to mental illness and other related severe conditions. It can be challenging for individuals to speak out among strangers in a support group. With time, individuals adapt and get a safe environment to socialize freely without judgments. LGBT support groups are very impactful in helping this minority group deal with life challenges and to accept themselves. It also provides them a platform to interact with similar individuals, while receiving support from families and friends.
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