What It Means to Show Up: Mental Health, Pride, and Being an Ally

I’m not part of the LGBTQIA+ community. I have not been rejected for whom I love or how I identify. But I care about people—and I care about mental health. So, every year when Pride Month rolls around, I find myself thinking not just about celebration, it's more than sharing a rainbow or having the right hashtags —but about support, safety, and the emotional well-being of those for whom this month means something deeply personal. 

The truth is, being human is hard. And for many LGBTQIA+ individuals, the mental health challenges are compounded—by rejection, discrimination, and the exhausting need to constantly explain, defend, or hide who they are. I don’t pretend to fully understand that experience. But I do know this: everyone deserves to feel seen, supported, and safe. 

Pride Month is a chance to raise our voices not just in celebration, but in solidarity. It is a time to recognize that mental health care is not one size fits all. It is a time to see the disproportionate and too-frequently real suicide, depression, and anxiety rates of LGBTQIA+ communities—and act. 

So, what does that look like for someone like me? 

Sometimes, it’s listening more than talking. 
Sometimes, it’s speaking up when someone says something harmful. 
Sometimes, it’s making sure the spaces I’m part of—at work, at home, online—are safe and inclusive. 
Sometimes, it’s simply checking in with a friend and letting them know they’re not alone. 

Pride is more than a parade. It’s a commitment to community. A chance to show up—not just in June, but all year long. 

To my LGBTQIA+ friends, family, coworkers, and neighbors: I see you. I support you. And I will continue to learn how to do better, be better, and advocate for the mental health and safety you deserve. 

Because allyship isn’t a label. It’s a practice. 

If you or someone you love needs support, here are some helpful resources: 
The Trevor Project – Crisis support and suicide prevention for LGBTQIA+ youth. 
LGBT National Help Center – Peer support hotlines for all ages. 
GLSEN – Resources focused on LGBTQIA+ inclusion in schools. 
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) – Mental health resources specific to LGBTQIA+ identities. 
Trans Lifeline – Peer support and crisis line run by and for trans people. 

You don’t have to be part of a community to stand with them. Let's keep showing up—for each other, and for mental health.