Interesting London-specific findings

In our earlier findings we reported high levels of experienced discrimination, and concerning levels of depression among the LGBTQ+ community. This week we ran some new analyses for Thrive LDN, who wanted to know what the levels of discrimination and depression were for London. Interestingly (although not surprisingly for those of us who have left small towns to move into a big city), we found a protective effect of living in the capital.

We did find high levels poor mental health among the LGBTQ+ community living in London - 61% of our London sample reported depressive symptomatology. But the levels of poor mental are lower among the LGBTQ+ community living in London, compared to those living in the rest of the UK (71% of people living outside of London reported depressive symptomatology).

When we looked at experiences of discrimination we found a similar trend. The LGBTQ+ community living in London report lower levels of experienced discrimination than those living in the rest of the UK - 12% of the London sample reported experiencing discrimination because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity; 22.5% of LGBTQ+ people living outside of London report this.

As we have discussed previously, there is a strong association between experiencing discrimination and poor mental health – whether you live in London or elsewhere in the UK. We find that among the LGBTQ+ community living in London, 80% of LGBTQ+ people who experienced discrimination report depressive symptomatology (compared to 62% among LGBTQ+ people who have not experienced discrimination).

Why may the “London effect” be? Living in an area where you feel you can be yourself, and where you are not the only member of an oppressed group, has been found to be protective for both mental health, and experiences of discrimination. Studies have reported this for ethnic minority people (a so-called ethnic density effect), and it is no surprise that this also happens for the LGBTQ+ community. Living in the “Gaybourhood” – whether you find one in Brighton, Hebden Bridge, London, Manchester, or elsewhere, has protective benefits for your mental health (and definitely helps reduce the need to look over your shoulder before kissing your partner or holding their hand).

Wherever it is that you are reading this from, remember that help is out there if you are feeling down and need to reach out. Have a look at the directory of the LGBT Consortium for organizations in your area that can help.

Laia and Dylan

Notes:

Measure of stress: Perceived Stress Scale 4-item

Measure of depression: Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D-10)

Sample size in London: 93 participants

Sample size in rest of UK: 166 participants