Understanding yourself: Where to find support if you are questioning your gender or your sexuality

This article is specifically about the LGBTQ+ community and how having questions or worries about any aspect of yourself, such as gender identity or sexuality, can have an impact on your mental wellbeing.

It is not being a member of the LGBTQ+ community itself that causes mental health difficulties.  However, it can be the impact of exposure to harmful views and perceptions, and how the person comes to perceive themselves which can cause people to experience issues like anxiety or low mood.

Being a teenager is full of opportunities and challenges in terms of navigating friendships and relationships, school and exams, our bodies changing and brains maturing. Sometimes people may have lots of questions about themselves as they grow and learn more about who they are. Sometimes these questions may be related to who they are attracted to, how they identify and express their gender or their bodies.

It can be confusing and isolating to worry about ourselves in this way. It can be hard to open up to others for fear of being judged, not knowing how to talk about your worries or feeling embarrassed or ashamed. There are safe spaces to talk. You can talk to:

• Trusted adults in your life. This could be your family, teachers or youth workers.
• Other young people. This could be your friends, support groups or peer support workers.
• Organisations and charities including LGBT Foundation.
• Other professionals including your GP, CAMHS or social worker.

How to get help

If you have any more questions on this area or would like to speak to somebody about this topic, have a look at the links or search for your local services in the blue box below. Alternatively you can always contact your school nurse.

• w: It’s Pronounced Metrosexual
  
• w: The Proud Trust