Doctor on mental health risks in LGBTQ community

IT HAS BEEN 50 YEARS SINCE THE AMERICAN PSYCHIATRIC ASSOCIATION REMOVED HOMOSEXUALITY FROM ITS LIST OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS. HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY THAT’S IMPORTANT TODAY IS DR. MICHELLE DIBLASI, A PSYCHIATRIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. ED: IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOU. THE CHANGE ITS SELF MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL BUT BACK IN 1973 IT WAS HUGE. IN YOUR OPINION WHAT MESSAGE DID THIS DECISIONS AND NOT ONLY TO THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY, BUT ALSO TO THE REST OF THE COUNTRY? >> I THINK THE MESSAGE IT SENT IS THAT HOMOSEXUALITY IS NOT A DISORDER. IT’S NOT A DISEASE THAT SHOULD BE TARGETED OR TREATED. AND BEING GAY IS NORMAL. I THINK THIS RISK WAS HUGE FOR US. IT BROKE DOWN A LOT OF WALLS, ALLOWED US TO BE A LOT MORE INCLUSIVE AS A SOCIETY AND AS A RESULT WE GOT TO PUT LAWS INTO PLACE TO HELP PEOPLE PROTECT PEOPLE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY AGAINST PREJUDICE IN THE WORKPLACE ALLOWING PEOPLE TO ADOPT CHILDREN, JOIN THE MILITARY AND EVEN TO GET MARRIED. SO I THINK IT REALLY BROUGHT US CLOSER TOGETHER AND A LOT MORE INCLUSIVE RAID JESSICA: THE CDC SAYS PEOPLE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO HAVE A HIGHER RISK OF MAJOR DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND EVEN SUICIDE. WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE REASONS BEHIND THAT, POSSIBLY? >> YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT. PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY HAVE UP TO A TWO AND A HALF TIME RISK OF HAVING MENTAL DISORDERS AND THAT INCLUDES DEPRESSION, ANXIETY AND EVEN SUICIDE AND I THINK THE REASON BEHIND THIS IS THERE IS JUST A REALLY HIGH CHANCE OF FEELING LONELY AND FEELING ISOLATED. OFTEN TIMES PEOPLE IN THIS COMMUNITY DON’T FEEL COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE SHARING THEIR ENTIRE IDENTITY TO EVERYBODY IN THEIR LIFE. AS A RESULT IT CAN LEAD THEM TO FEELING QUITE ISOLATED. THEREFORE ANXIOUS AND DEPRESSED. I THINK THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS IS WHEN THEY DO KIND OF SHARE EXACTLY WHO THEY ARE SOMETIMES THEY RISK PEOPLE NOT ACCEPTING THEM OR REJECTING THEM AND THAT, AGAIN, CAN LEAD TO WORSENING ANXIETY AND SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION. ED: TO EXPAND ON THAT, HAVING A SUPPORTIVE GROUP OF FRIENDS AND FAMILY IS GOOD FOR EVERYONE’S MENTAL HEALTH, REGARDLESS OF SEXUAL ORIENTATION. BUT WHY IS IT PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE IN THE LGBTQ COMMUNITY? >> I THINK IT’S PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT FROM WHAT I JUST MENTIONED. THERE ARE HIGHER RATES OF FEELING ISOLATED, FEELING LIKE YOU’RE NOT ACCEPTED AND SO YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE AT LEAST A FEW PEOPLE, IF NOT JUST ONE PERSON IN YOUR FAMILY OR FRIENDS WHO REALLY CARES AND LOVES YOU FOR EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE AND FOR ALL OF YOU. AND I THINK THAT THAT’S REALLY THE MOST IMPORTANT THING. THE OTHER THING IS YOU REALLY NEED TO HAVE SOMEBODY IN YOUR LIFE YOU CAN BE THERE FOR YOU BECAUSE INEVITABLY YOU’RE GOING TO RUN INTO SOME CHALLENGES AT SOME POINT AND WHO KNOWS MAYBE PREJUDICE IN THE WORKPLACE AND YOU REALLY NEED SOMEBODY TO RELY ON, TO HAVE AN OPEN EAR AND REALLY HEAR WHAT’S GOING ON. MARIA: DR. DIBLASI, THANK YOU. AND TO OUR VIEWERS IF YOU HAVE MENTAL HEALTH QUESTIONS THAT YOU’D LIKE OUR EXPERTS TO ANSW

Doctor on mental health risks in LGBTQ community

Updated: 4:55 PM EDT Apr 12, 2023

Dr. Michelle DiBlasi, a psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, on mental health in the LGBTQ community.

Dr. Michelle DiBlasi, a psychiatrist at Tufts Medical Center, on mental health in the LGBTQ community.