LGBT+ Self-Care Tools
- LonGBoaT Wakefield
- 1 minute ago
- 4 min read
The national mental health charity, Mind, have recently shared some self-care advice for the LGBT+ community, particularly due to the recent rise in discrimination and online trolling towards the queer community. The aim of self-care is to improve our own mental health and wellbeing. It is important to acknowledge that the following self-care advice does not negate the discrimination you may have experienced, but instead promotes resilience and self-esteem.
Talk to someone you trust
Sharing our feelings and experiences with those we trust can 'share the load' and remind us that we are not alone. For some LGBT+ people, it might be difficult to identify someone we feel safe to discuss our emotions and LGBT+ identity. If this is the case, LonGBoaT's support groups are a safe space to have these discussions:
If you would prefer to speak to somebody over the phone, Here for You are a Wakefield based charity providing mental health support over the phone, as well as one-to-one support services. Switchboard are a national phone line for LGBT+ support and advice, if you would feel more comfortable speaking to an LGBT+ dedicated service.
Find peer support
Similar to the above point, finding a community of people with similar experiences can help us to feel like we're not alone. LonGBoaT's support groups are the perfect place to find a community of people locally.
Celebrate being LGBT+
If you have experienced discrimination or you feel unsafe being an open about your sexuality or gender identity, it can often feel like being LGBT+ is a negative experience. Therefore, it is important to find times to celebrate being part of the LGBT+ community to promote your mental health and wellbeing. This can be referred to as 'queer joy', which we strive to achieve within the activities provided by LonGBoaT, such as Community Pride.
However, queer joy doesn't have to be a public experience, and you can find queer joy by yourself or with others. This could be by:
Watching a film, listening to music, reading a book, or enjoying art.
Spending time with people who accept and celebrate you.
Celebrating the achievements of other LGBT+ people.
If you want advice about where to find resources for queer joy, feel free to speak to any of the LonGBoaT team and we can share what brings us personal queer joy!
Engage in hobbies
Doing things that you enjoy, such as crafts, reading, or gaming, are a great way to provide distractions and occupy your mind. They can also provide you with a sense of achievement and reward.
This might also include enjoying nature and gardening. As part of LonGBoaT's adoption of Wakefield Kirkgate train station, we provide multiple volunteering opportunities for local LGBT+ people to support with planting and gardening, general maintenance, creative projects, and practical improvements around the station. No experience is required and we will provide a full induction and necessary equipment.
LonGBoaT have a variety of volunteering opportunities, if gardening isn't your hobby of choice! Have a look at our volunteering hub to see if there is anything that you would like to engage in.
Look after your physical health
Often your physical health will also impact on your mental health and wellbeing. LonGBoaT offer multiple services to promote LGBT+ physical health, including blood pressure monitoring, stop smoking support, and sexual health support. If you would like any support or advice about this, please feel free to get in touch.
As a transgender and non-binary person, we may face unique challenges with our physical health and looking after our body. Finding a community of other trans and non-binary people can help to share concerns and advice about promoting both physical and mental health unique to your personal needs. There are many local transgender and non-binary people that attend LonGBoaT's services, including our support groups, social activities, and volunteering opportunities - you are not alone.
Think about how you use social media
Social media can be a great resource to find community and support. However, you may also be likely to encounter comments or abuse towards the LGBT+ community on social media.
Mind classifies seeking out harmful things online as a form of self-harm. It can be helpful to regularly review who you're following on social media, questioning whether the content they are sharing is damaging your mental health. It might be helpful to block these accounts as a way of protecting and promoting your own wellbeing.
The LGBT Foundation have published a digital self-harm support guide, if you would like to find out more information about this.
We hope that you've found this blog post useful for promoting your mental health and wellbeing in particularly challenging times. Remember you are not alone and LonGBoaT are a vital resource for the LGBT+ community across the Wakefield district, so please reach out to access our services or find out more on our website.
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