š³ļøāš Pride and Mental Health: Why Visibility and Support Matters
- mhmadmin
- 15 hours ago
- 3 min read

June is Pride Month ā a time of celebration, remembrance, and solidarity for LGBTQIA+ communities around the world, including here in Wales. But beyond the rainbow flags and parades, Pride remains a powerful act of resilience, visibility, and self-affirmation.
For many, it is a joyful time of connection and community. For others, it can be a reminder of the barriers, discrimination, or loneliness that still exist. Thatās why Pride is also a time to shine a light on mental healthābecause support, safety, and equality are essential to wellbeing.
The History of Pride
Pride traces its roots to the Stonewall Uprising, a defining moment in LGBTQIA+ rights activism.
On 28 June 1969, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York Cityās Greenwich Village. While such raids were common at the time, this time the community fought backāsparking days of resistance and protest. These demonstrations, led largely by Black and Latinx trans women and others from marginalised communities, marked a turning point in LGBTQIA+ visibility and resistance.[1][2][5]
The following year, activists held the Christopher Street Liberation Day March to commemorate the uprising. It was the first Pride eventāand it sparked an international movement. Today, Pride remains rooted in that original spirit of protest, unity, and the demand for equality.[3][4][5]
Mental Health: The Reality Behind the Rainbow
While Wales has made progress, mental health inequalities remain stark for LGBTQIA+ communities. These disparities are not a result of someoneās identityābut of the discrimination, stigma, and barriers people still face in society and services.
In Wales:
52% of LGBTQIA+ people have experienced depression, and 61% have experienced anxiety in the last year (Stonewall Cymru).
74% of LGBTQIA+ people have experienced a mental health problem, compared to 63% of the general population (Mind Cymru, 2023).
Among trans people in Wales, 72% report having experienced depression, and nearly 50% have considered suicide (Mind Cymru, 2023).
These figures paint a clear picture: affirming, accessible, and culturally sensitive support is not optionalāitās essential.
š How Do Recent Welsh Mental Health Stats Compare?
Recent national data provides further insight into the disparities affecting LGBTQIA+ communities in Wales:
31.8% of lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults in Wales report poor mental health, compared to 20.9% of heterosexual adults ([EHRC][4]).
LGBTQ+ people across the UK are around 50% more likely to report having a mental health condition than the general population ([Mental Health Wales][7]).
Many LGBTQIA+ people in Wales turn to alcohol, tobacco or other substances to manage emotional distress ([WHESP][1]).
LGBTQIA+ Young People in Wales:
7 in 10 LGBTQ+ girls and 6 in 10 LGBTQ+ boys report having suicidal thoughts.
92% of trans young people have thought about taking their own life.
41% have attempted suicide, and 77% have deliberately self-harmed ([NHS Confederation][6]).
Harassment and Discrimination:
46% of LGBTQIA+ people in Wales report verbal harassment in the past year.
26% have experienced online abuse, and 13% have faced threats of physical or sexual violence ([Welsh Government][3]).
LGBTQIA+ individuals facing additional disadvantageāsuch as homelessness, poverty, or abuseāoften encounter inaccessible or unsuitable mental health services, compounding the impact of trauma and distress ([NHS Confederation][5]).
š³ļøāš Pride as Protest ā and Progress
Pride is more than a partyāitās a reminder of the fight for visibility, equality, and inclusion. Whether itās Cardiff Pride, Swansea Pride, Wrexham Pride, or smaller community events across the Valleys, each gathering holds space for celebration, connection, and activism.
For some, attending Pride is a joyful homecoming. For others, itās an act of quiet courageāparticularly for those still navigating coming out, cultural pressures, or family rejection.
š¬ Affirming Support That Reflects You
At Mental Health Matters Wales, we stand with LGBTQIA+ people every day of the year.
We are committed to:
š Championing LGBTQIA+ voices across our services, events, and outreach.
š¤ Working with partners to provide inclusive, affirming support.
š¬ Offering safe, non-judgemental spaces to talk and be heard.
š Signposting to culturally competent services and community networks.
No matter where you are in your journeyāyou are welcome, and you matter.
š You Deserve to Be Seen ā and Supported
Pride Month is a celebrationābut itās also a call to action.
Whether you're out and proud, exploring your identity, or supporting a loved oneāyour mental wellbeing matters, and you are not alone.
š© Contact us: info@mhmwales.org
š Visit your local Wellbeing Hub
š Follow us on social media: @MHM_Wales
Together we will build a Wales where everyone can live openly, proudly, and supported.
š References
[1] Equity in Action: Advancing LGBTQIA+ Health in Wales ā WHESP
[2] The Stonewall Uprising ā Stonewall UK
[3] LGBTQ+ Action Plan for Wales ā Welsh Government
[4] Health Fact Sheet ā Wales ā EHRC
[5] Reducing Mental Health Inequalities ā NHS Confederation
[6] Health and Wellbeing Alliance Mental Health Sub-Group ā NHS Confederation
[7] Mental Health Wales ā LGBT+ People More Likely to Report Poor Mental Health
[8] Stonewall Riots ā Britannica
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