NO MORE Intern Mel Holman—Domestic Violence Impacts on the Mental Health of LGBTQIA+ Survivors

''Everyone, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, deserves to receive the help that they need after experiencing abuse''.

I had the pleasure of interning for NO MORE during the Fall 2020 semester of my senior year at Arizona State University. Joining during October, I had the opportunity to work on many meaningful projects for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, 16 Days of Activism, Giving Tuesday, and much more. While researching the many statistics and information about domestic violence, one thing stood out to me: there was little information about abuse and its mental health impacts in the LGBTQIA+ community. As a psychology major and a member of the LGBTQIA+ community, I decided to dive deeper into the intersection of domestic violence and mental health.

As part of this community, I am all too aware of being left out of various conversations; it can be challenging at times. Exclusion from domestic violence conversations creates a lack of knowledge on the topic. Without the proper knowledge, it can be more difficult for sufferers to be aware that they are being abused. Individuals lacking knowledge can then end up staying in the situation or even treat future partners similarly. Exclusion from domestic violence conversations can also create feelings of hopelessness. A person can feel stuck in a situation because they might think that there is no help for them. Inclusion and awareness make all the difference.

For LGBTQIA+ individuals experiencing domestic violence, many questions can arise, such as:

• What programs can I go to for help that will accept me?
• Will the people in my life who disapprove of me offer help?
• I'm not out; what do I do?
• Is what I'm experiencing actually domestic violence?
• If a program does not explicitly include me, where do I seek help?

These questions represent just some of the additional obstacles that we in the LGBTQIA+ community face when dealing with and reporting domestic violence. This uncertainty leads to underreporting, even though domestic violence occurs just as frequently in LGBTQIA+ relationships as in heterosexual relationships.

I wanted to make sure that the voices of all survivors are heard. I surveyed members of the LGBTQIA+ community who had experienced domestic violence about the abuse’s effects on their mental health. Domestic violence is more than just physical violence. It is also emotional abuse, financial abuse, isolation, stalking, and more. An added challenge that individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community can face is a partner threatening to "out" them. In fact, 22% of our survey participants stated that this was a form of abuse they were subjected to. Here are some other findings that stood out:

• Almost 40% of survey respondents were abused for four or more years.
• The four most prevalent types of abuse were: Emotional Abuse: 97%, Verbal Abuse: 76%, Physical Abuse: 61%, and Sexual Abuse: 61%. 
• 73% of respondents rated their mental health during domestic violence as “poor.”
• 88% self-reported that their mental health worsened after domestic violence, with 91% of respondents reporting at least one mental health issue after.
• After domestic violence, the highest reported mental health issues were PTSD: 67%, Anxiety: 64%, and Depression: 54%. Cases of PTSD went up by 233%.
• 64% of respondents sought out therapy after, with 61% stating that it was effective.

Some respondents reported additional challenges. For example, some individuals who were abused by women did not immediately recognize the abuse, as domestic violence is often only portrayed as being perpetrated by men. Domestic violence can transpire in any relationship with any gender, and the experiences of those abused by women are valid. Many survivors, although affected mentally, could not receive treatment because of a lack of money and insurance. The resources provided at the end of this post offer counseling services and referrals to help survivors find treatment at a cost that works for them. 

To make more LGBTQIA+ individuals feel more comfortable to seek out help, we need to remove the community's stigma. That means ensuring that domestic violence hotlines specifically state they are LGBTQIA+ friendly. Unfortunately, if it is not explicitly said, some LGBTQIA+ individuals will not utilize resources because of prior instances of being turned away or not being treated equally. When individuals do use services, they can quickly tell if someone has the proper training to work with LGBTQIA+ individuals.

Everyone, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation, deserves to receive the help that they need after experiencing abuse. If you think you are experiencing domestic violence, please use some of the resources below. Too often, the internal, mental health effects of domestic violence are overlooked. If you have experienced domestic violence, getting help for any mental health issues can start the healing process. Addressing all of these emotions can be difficult, but it will be worth it in the end. If you're a survivor reading this and are unsure of getting treatment, just know that you are brave for surviving.

If you are still unsure of where to go, many cities and towns offer resources for people experiencing crises that are not part of the 911 program. They can provide services such as 24/7 hotlines, emotional support, victim advocacy, assistance with protection orders, and many other services.

Everyone deserves a happy and healthy relationship.

That includes you.

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