
Will Young recently made waves by speaking freely and openly about mental health. Speaking to Channel 4 News, his words on anxiety and low self-esteem will have ringed true with many young LGBT people.
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Will Young to talk about Mental Health at National #StudentPride
One in four of us will face mental health issues in our life. But the statistics are worryingly more acute for students. A recent study by the National Union of Students produced for parliament showed 4 in 5 students faced mental health issues in the last year.
On top of the pressures, any student faces – imagine also being LGBT. Another report by the NUS’s LGBT arm in 2014 showed that 1 in 5 students face homophobia and 1 in 3 face transphobia.
That’s why we at Student Pride are so pleased to announce such a huge advocate for the LGBT community Will Young as a panelist at our event this year. We truly believe, talking about mental health, as Ruby Wax tweeted and picked up upon yesterday – inspires hope in the lives of so many.
- Matthew Todd – Attitude Magazine Editor (Chair)
- Jonny Benjamin – Mental Health Activist, Think Well founder and documentary producer
- Taz-Edwards White – LGBT Adult Mental Health & Wellbeing Coordinator At Metro
- Bisi Alimi – Nigerian LGBT Activist
- Munroe Bergdorf – Trans Activist and DJ
Jonny Benjamin was going to take his life before a ‘“ stranger on a bridge” stopped him. Speaking ahead of Student Pride, he said “Struggling with my sexuality was one of the factors that led me to nearly jumping from a bridge when I was 20. Luckily I was talked out of what I was about to do but there are countless others who aren’t”
Whether it’s Jonny’s account, Olly Alexander talking so openly about his mental health in Attitude Magazine and Dan Beeson’s account on Gay Star News or Will Young speaking this weekend – National Student Pride have opened up their event to talk about the issues of mental health – because every account shows we’ve heard shows how talking, makes all the difference.
When 48% of trans people in the UK under 26 have attempted suicide because of discrimination they suffer and mental health charity Re-Think statistics show gay and bisexual men are four times more likely to commit suicide than the rest of the population – it’s time to stand together on this one.
Metro CEO Dr Greg Ussher said: “based on a 7,000 strong survey of young people – we know that LGBTQ+ young people are disproportionately affected by mental health issues – 42% of LGBTQ respondents reported going for medical help for depression or anxiety, compared to 29% of heterosexual non-trans respondents.
“The reasons for this are complex, but factors include: bullying and lack of support for our schools – 65% of LGBTQ+ young people think their school supported its pupils badly in respect of sexuality or gender identity; lack of stability – nearly one in ten LGBTQ+ young people reported they have to leave home for reasons relating to their sexuality or gender identity.”
Hatti Smart, Student Pride co-chair said:
“This year, National Student Pride will be placing a real emphasis on mental health, that affect LGBT youth disproportionately to their peers. It’s time we stood together as a community on this and just as we broke down the prejudice on being gay, bi and trans – start the conversation on taking the taboo out of mental health”
Photo by Mercury Press/Splash News/ Corbis