This year’s Pride Month just feels different. It’s hard to argue that there’s a cultural backlash in the air regarding support for the LGBTQ+ community right now. Just a few years ago, store shelves, sports fields, and seemingly every other economic force were on board with Pride Month when it made financial sense. Now we’re seeing a more, to put it politely, muted posture when it comes to standing out, speaking up, and showing support.

While this pullback is troubling in and of itself, it represents a broader erosion of support that translates to public health, mental health, legal protections and everyday rights. In other words, it’s seldom been more important to be a present and active ally to LGBTQ+ people who are struggling with mental health issues, whether it’s substance use, depression, anxiety, trauma or any other challenge.

It can be hard, however, to know what kind of ally to be, as well as how, when and where to show up. Here are a few seemingly small ways to show your support that will make a big difference.

Stay Informed

Knowledge is power. We freely admit that reading and following the news can be detrimental to your own mental health, but staying informed and aware of the rapid-fire issues that the LGBTQ+ population is facing in today’s political climate will help you to understand the facts, context and potential consequences of these decisions.

Whether it’s deprioritizing or downright eliminating health research, rolling back anti-discrimination legislation, cutting suicide prevention resources or anything else, there are no shortages of challenges of which you can and should be mindful. You can expand on this awareness by sharing developments on social media or through civic action, such as reaching out to your representative to voice your disapproval.

Stay In Touch

Don’t underestimate the importance of reaching out or just being around. Checking in more often, whether it’s to make plans or just see how they’re doing, signals to your friend or loved one that you’re still there during a time when many of their other support pillars may be retreating or weakening. This can be as simple as checking in after an important piece of news breaks that affects LGBTQ+ rights or just asking them if they need to vent.

Read the Room

Staying in touch doesn’t mean you have to smother them with platitudes or make your relationship all about their identity. Although it feels like these issues are hitting closer to home than ever, it’s important to realize that the LGBTQ+ population is not a monolith. Many of its members prefer to remain apolitical. Knowing how to be an ally to your friend or loved one starts with knowing your friend or loved one and meeting them where they are in their political activism. Some people don’t want to be reminded of the worst parts of the news every day, and knowing when to give it a rest can be just as important as knowing when to “give it some gas”.

Offer Tangible Help

If you notice your friend or loved one is struggling with mental health challenges, it doesn’t matter why. The most immediate and important thing you can do is get them help. Help them research treatment options that are best equipped to meet their clinical and cultural needs. Recovery Unplugged is ready to work with you and your loved ones to offer comprehensive clinical care and support. No matter what type of help they need, we’re here for them…and for you.