Love, Me Empowers LGBTQ+ People Living With Depression

In times of great difficulty, community is more important than ever, and this is especially true when it comes to depression and mental health issues for LGBTQ+ people. A guiding hand or gentle voice from a supportive and affirmative community is often the only lifeline to recovery, especially given that LGBTQ+ people suffer disproportionately from these problems and often have a lack of safe spaces or affirming messages.

Love, Me, Pride Media's new editorial, video, and social media series, is our hand extended to those in the LGBTQ+ community struggling with severe treatment-resistant depression. We hope that by giving voice to folks like former professional basketball player DeMarco Majors and Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter Mary Lambert, who fought their own battles with depression, we can give hope and help to those who might feel they have nowhere else to turn.

According to research from the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, LGBTQ+ adults are three times more likely than straight adults to experience a mental health disorder. In fact, 40 percent of LGBTQ+ adults reported having a mental illness in the last year versus 18 percent of straight adults. Even more disturbing, LGBTQ+ teens are six times as likely to experience depression as straight teens.

The numbers are staggering, which is why Pride Media aims to remind readers that living with depression is not something to be ashamed of. Empowerment is the key toward healing and growth. The only we'll get there is by reminding ourselves that depression is a journey we never have to take alone.

You can watch DeMarco Majors share his story May 6 and Mary Lambert June 17 at Advocate.com. Watch fashion designer Daniel Henson share how his battle with depression became his superpower on Out.com here.

If you have contemplated or are contemplating suicide, please know there is a well of support out there to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 can be reached 24 hours a day by people of all ages and identities. If you are a trans or gender-nonconforming person considering suicide, the Trans Lifeline can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The Trevor Project is the world's largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger). Trained counselors at the Trevor Project Lifeline can be reached 24/7 at (866) 488-7386, by texting START to 678678, or via the TrevorChat instant messaging service at TheTrevorProject.org/Help.