Key Takeaways:

• In our own state of Michigan, a 2019 report by GLSEN shows that LGBTQ+ students generally do not feel safe and do not have access to resources such as inclusive curriculums and inclusive school policies.

• Start My Wellness stands with the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and during every month

• Our clinic works with people across the state of Michigan, and our intent is to be a place where any person regardless of gender or sexual identity feels welcomed, safe, seen, and empowered to seek care.

Since the 1969 Stonewall Uprisings in NYC, the month of June has been a time to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities and honor the activism of those who participated in Stonewall and those who are still actively involved with queer liberation movements today.

On June 4th, 2022, Ferndale Pride took place downtown, just blocks from our office. Folks from the Ferndale area and across the state joined together to celebrate queerness, support each other through mutual aid, and learn about different resources available to the LGBTQ+ community.

At this point, you might be asking yourself “why is Pride Month a topic of conversation for us at Start My Wellness?” First and foremost, because of our clients. Our clinic works with people across the state of Michigan, and our intent is to be a place where any person regardless of gender or sexual identity feels welcomed, safe, seen, and empowered to seek care. Every person deserves to live their healthiest life possible, and we are open and excited about working with folks that come from all backgrounds to attain that goal.

The second reason involves some unfortunate statistics regarding the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals. According to NAMI – the National Alliance on Mental Illness – LGBTQ+ folks are more at risk to experience rejection, trauma, homelessness, substance abuse, suicidal thoughts, and more. This leads to LGB (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual) adults and children experiencing mental health conditions at twice the rate of heterosexual adults, and transgender adults experiencing mental health conditions at four times the rate of cis-gendered (people whose gender identity corresponds with their birth sex) adults. Transgender youth experience mental health conditions at twice the rate of their cisgendered peers.

In our own state of Michigan, a 2019 report by GLSEN shows that LGBTQ+ students generally do not feel safe and do not have access to resources such as inclusive curriculums and inclusive school policies.

It is especially impactful to consider these statistics during Pride Month. Even though LGBTQ+ folks deal with disproportionately high mental health conditions, there is still space made to celebrate queerness, to make visible their struggles and victories, and to continue to be resilient.

Start My Wellness stands with the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month and during every month. We admire the resilience of this community, and hope to offer our own resources, such as clinicians that are specifically trained and experienced in working with the LGBTQ+ community who are accepting new clients today.