Pride Month matters deeply to me — both personally and professionally.
As a gay man, a psychiatrist, and the founder of Bloomfield Health, I know that mental health cannot be separated from the social world we live in. Many LGBTQ+ people continue to experience shame, rejection, discrimination, and fear. The bottom line is this: we need Pride because Pride is the antidote to shame.
At Bloomfield Health, we take LGBTQ+ mental health extremely seriously. We are proud to provide LGBTQ+ affirmative mental healthcare and to support LGBTQ+ patients, colleagues, families, and communities.
For many LGBTQ+ people, experiences of queerphobia begin early in life. The vast majority of our LGBTQ+ patients describe experiences of bullying, exclusion, ridicule, or fear — whether in the playground at school, within their families, or later in workplaces and wider society. These experiences matter psychologically. Chronic exposure to stigma and prejudice increases the risk of depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), substance misuse, self-harm, and suicidality.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ people experience significantly higher rates of mental health difficulties compared to the general population, not because there is anything inherently pathological about being LGBTQ+, but because of the effects of discrimination, minority stress, trauma, and social exclusion. Evidence also demonstrates disproportionately high rates of sexual assault, hate crime, and interpersonal trauma experienced by LGBTQ+ communities.
I remember vividly when the far-right nail bomb attack happened in Soho in 1999. I was 18 years old — only just no longer legally a child having been educated under the atrociously damaging section 28 policy — and I remember thinking with profound shock that there were people who hated us so much that they actually wanted to kill us. That realisation stays with you.
Sadly, queerphobia is not something confined to history. I have personally been physically assaulted because of my sexuality. More recently, I was subjected to homophobic abuse in front of my family and child. My family continues to face systemic and institutional homophobia as a queer family. These experiences are painful, exhausting, and psychologically corrosive.
This is why visibility, solidarity, and Pride matter.
Pride is not simply a celebration. It is also remembrance, resistance, and survival.
I am very mindful that many LGBTQ+ people lived through the AIDS epidemic and survived the devastating loss of loved ones during a time when much of society turned a blind eye to the suffering and deaths of gay people because of systemic homophobia. The psychological scars of that period continue to echo across generations. We must never forget that prejudice has consequences measured in human lives.
Nor should we forget the darker chapters of history. Striped pyjamas with pink triangles on them actually happened. LGBTQ+ people were persecuted, imprisoned, and murdered under fascism. History teaches us that rights can be lost as well as won.
Many LGBTQ+ people, myself included, are increasingly concerned by aspects of the current political climate and by rhetoric that risks eroding recently hard-won rights and protections. We must never become complacent. Gay rights are human rights.
Standing up for LGBTQ+ equality is not only a moral issue — it is also a mental health issue.
At Bloomfield Health, we strive to create an environment where LGBTQ+ people feel safe, respected, understood, and affirmed. We are committed to being an LGBTQ+ friendly employer and clinical service. That commitment is not symbolic or performative. It informs how we recruit staff, support colleagues, deliver care, and engage with our wider community.
We also recognise the importance of evidence-based psychological support tailored to LGBTQ+ experiences. Our Director of Clinical Psychology, Dr David Hambrook, has been at the forefront of developing psychological therapy programmes using cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) specifically adapted for LGBTQ+ people, including work focused on overcoming internalised queerphobia and shame.
Internalised stigma can profoundly affect self-esteem, relationships, identity, and emotional wellbeing. Many LGBTQ+ people grow up absorbing negative societal messages about themselves long before they have the language or support to challenge them. Therapy can help people recognise these experiences, process trauma, and develop a more compassionate and affirming relationship with themselves.
One of the most powerful aspects of Pride is the reminder that LGBTQ+ people are not alone and never have been. We are part of a long history of creativity, resilience, courage, and community.
I often think of the words from Larry Kramer’s The Normal Heart which I will paraphrase here:
“We belong to a culture. All through history we’ve been there. We simply have to claim it.”
Those words still resonate profoundly today.
To all my LGBTQ+ siblings: please remember that you belong. Your identity is not something shameful to hide or apologise for. Pride is not arrogance. Pride is survival. Pride is dignity. Pride is community. Pride is mental health.
And to allies, colleagues, employers, institutions, and policymakers: standing up against queerphobia matters. Inclusive, affirming environments save lives.
At Bloomfield Health, we remain committed to providing compassionate, evidence-based, LGBTQ+ affirmative mental healthcare for all who need it.
Sources and Further Reading
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