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Healthcare
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Mental Health and Stigma of Sexual Minorities
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Mental Health and Stigma of Sexual Minorities

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 4430

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Amanda Wilson

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Psychology Division, De Montfort University, Leicester LE1 9BH, UK
Interests: public health psychology; marginalization and health; sexual health; sexual minorities; well-being and psychiatry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sexual minorities have an increased risk of poor mental health compared to the heterosexual community, particularly in terms of self-harm, suicide, mood disorders, and substance disorders. Poor mental health is often related to both structural and internal stressors in the individual’s environment, which can facilitate or restrict help-seeking. As such, both external and internal stigma play a large part in shaping mental health within this community.

External stigma refers to the persistent discrimination from society, family, and intimate partners, whereas internal stigma takes the form of concious or unconcious messages around homonegativity. It is also suggested that mental health issues of sexual minorities share general similarities across the community, and that there is unique mental health stigma within specific sub-groups.

This Special Issue aims to highlight studies from high-, middle-, or low-income counties, employing a global perspective, as the conceptualization of mental health stigma has predominantly focused on white Western ideology thus far, ignoring the role of cuture in mental health. This Special Issue aims to cover a wide variety of mental health issues and internal or external stressors that affect either the whole community or specific subgroups under the LGBTQQIP2SAA umbrella.

Dr. Amanda Wilson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Healthcare is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sexual minorities
  • LGBTQQIP2SAA
  • mental health issues
  • external and internal stigma
  • environmental stressors
  • substance use disorders
  • help-seeking
  • global perspectives
  • cultural influences
  • prevalence in general community/ies

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 1489 KiB  
Article
Voices from the Rainbow: Exploring Participants’ Experiences in an Online LGBTIQ+-Affirmative Psychoeducation Program
by Ruth A. Ancín-Nicolás, João Carlos Collado, Miguel A. Lopez-Sáez and António-José Gonzalez
Healthcare 2025, 13(2), 115; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13020115 - 9 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1014
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This article highlights the importance of addressing the mental health of LGBTQ people, specifically through psychoeducation/intervention programs. The primary objective was to understand the effects of participating in an online affirmative program. The theoretical frameworks of the minority stress model and [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This article highlights the importance of addressing the mental health of LGBTQ people, specifically through psychoeducation/intervention programs. The primary objective was to understand the effects of participating in an online affirmative program. The theoretical frameworks of the minority stress model and the concept of decompensation were used to understand and address disparities with the general population. Methods: A detailed protocol was designed to understand the participants’ experiences. An analysis of the results was carried out using a content analysis of the data collected from a convenience sample of participants from two groups. Results: The findings show that the participants’ experiences were satisfactory, especially with developing coping skills and changing their attitudes towards homophobia, also showing improvements in mental health indicators. Conclusions: This study concludes that online LGBTQ-affirmative psychoeducation programs can be positive in enhancing the mental health and well-being of the LGBTQ population. The research highlights the importance of extending these programs to LGBTQ family members. It is also important to acknowledge the specificities of each subgroup. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Stigma of Sexual Minorities)
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21 pages, 323 KiB  
Article
“Navigating Risk and Responsibility?”: A Mixed-Methods Study Addressing Stigma and Well-Being Among Men Who Have ‘Sex on Chems’ with Other Men in the English Midlands
by Amanda Wilson and Iain R. Williamson
Healthcare 2024, 12(23), 2479; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12232479 - 8 Dec 2024
Viewed by 1128
Abstract
Background: Most research on ‘Chemsex’ has been conducted with gay, bi-sexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in large cities with well-established infrastructures. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the ‘Chemsex’ risks and responsibilities of GBMSM who lived outside of the [...] Read more.
Background: Most research on ‘Chemsex’ has been conducted with gay, bi-sexual, and men who have sex with men (GBMSM) in large cities with well-established infrastructures. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the ‘Chemsex’ risks and responsibilities of GBMSM who lived outside of the queer metropolis. This study also aimed to understand how stigma and mental health present in the absence of a well-established community infrastructure. Methods: This study utilized mixed methods in Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland, a location in the East Midlands of England. The quantitative component consisted of a survey. The qualitative component comprised three case studies based on in-depth interviews, using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results: Of the 123 survey respondents, 86% engaged in riskier sex during sessions and 35% no longer enjoyed sober sex. In the interviews, the three men balanced risk management and personal responsibility, positioning themselves as mature, considerate, and well-educated users. All were alienated by the term ‘Chemsex’. The findings are considered using theoretical frameworks, or how discourses of ‘moral threat’ operate within the micro-politics of regulating GBMSM’s pleasure and stigma. Conclusions: The complexities of understanding this practice for researchers and practitioners are discussed and recommendations are made for reframing education and support services for GBMSM. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Stigma of Sexual Minorities)
12 pages, 216 KiB  
Article
Preliminary Psychometric Evaluation of Novel Measures of Therapist Practice Related to LGBTQ+ Clients
by Rodman Turpin, Jessica N. Fish, Evelyn King-Marshall and Bradley Boekeloo
Healthcare 2024, 12(1), 110; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12010110 - 3 Jan 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1464
Abstract
Background: Culturally competent and equitable mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ people is critical for addressing mental health inequities for this population. Tools to assess therapists’ practice with LGBTQ+ clients are needed for research and clinical efforts related to mental healthcare equity goals. Methods: We [...] Read more.
Background: Culturally competent and equitable mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ people is critical for addressing mental health inequities for this population. Tools to assess therapists’ practice with LGBTQ+ clients are needed for research and clinical efforts related to mental healthcare equity goals. Methods: We conducted a preliminary assessment of the reliability and validity of a novel 28-item self-report measure assessing therapist practice with LGBTQ+ clients. We examined the construct validity using factor analyses, the convergent and criterion validity using intercorrelations with LGBTQ-affirming knowledge, self-efficacy, and attitudes, and the internal consistency using Cronbach alpha. Results: Our overall total LGBTQ+ practice measure demonstrated excellent internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91) and was strongly associated with LGBTQ+ knowledge (rho = 0.377), self-efficacy (rho = 0.633), and LGBTQ+ attitudes (rho = 0.305). We also identified two subscales: “Commitment to Continued Learning” and “Affirmative Practices”, which demonstrated similarly strong internal consistency and tests of validity. Conclusions: Our novel measure of overall LGBTQ+ practice, including two subscales, demonstrated strong reliability and validity. These findings have important implications for practice and research in mental healthcare for LGBTQ+ clients. Future research exploring these measures in relationship to mental healthcare outcomes is recommended. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mental Health and Stigma of Sexual Minorities)
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