Ambika*, a lesbian-identifying woman, was forced into conversion therapy when she was thirty. John* shares his school experiences with bullying and how they shaped his mental health. A sixty-year-old person is questioned about her life as she seeks to legally change her gender identity.
These stories represent first-hand accounts of what life is like for us here in India. By amplifying their voices, we want to raise awareness about the challenges LGBT+ people face when seeking mental health support in India.
The Health Minister of India could easily help by issuing queer affirmative training guidelines for mental health institutions across the country, but he continues to drag his feet while ignoring our struggle with mental health institutions in India.
What kind of mental health support are people seeking? What are the available resources? What sort of barriers do folks face when seeking mental health support? What does a support system look like in India? What kind of changes are needed?
This is the whirlwind of questions that these queer Indians are answering by sharing their stories.
As a queer woman, living with depression, I avoided therapy for years in fear of being "treated" for my queerness instead. No one should fear that their identity will be questioned as they seek support for their mental health.
Please, sign this petition and share this page to amplify the voices of queer Indians.
Thanks for going All Out.
Maithilee Sagara (she/her)Campaigns fellow at All Out
* I'm not using people's real names, for their own safety.
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