Some of the hardest battles LGBTQ+ individuals in India face happen behind closed doors — in therapy sessions, quiet homes, or moments of silence with family. For many, daily life means constantly negotiating their identity in a society where shame runs deep, validation is rare, and acceptance is not guaranteed.
Mental health concerns in India’s LGBTQ+ community are both serious and widely ignored. Recent data reveals that 29% to 45% of men with same-sex partners report symptoms of depression. Among transgender women, this number rises to between 43% and 59%. Anxiety is also common, affecting up to 40% of those in same-sex relationships and nearly 39% of transgender women.
Even more alarming is the rate of suicidal thoughts. Almost half of the men in same-sex relationships report having such thoughts, and nearly one in four have attempted suicide. These numbers reflect real people living in silence, often without support.
While Pride Month is marked by celebrations and visibility, it is also a time to reflect on deeper issues. What does it mean to be queer in a country where conversion therapy was banned only recently? What does help look like when the pain is caused not by chemical imbalances, but by constant social rejection?
To understand the issue better, two mental health professionals shared their experiences. Dr Akanksha Das, a clinical psychologist at Fortis Hospital in Mulund, and Dr Sameer Bhargava, a psychiatrist at Fortis Escorts Hospital in Faridabad, described the emotional weight that many queer clients carry when they seek help.
Therapy Begins With Fear
Dr Akanksha explained that many queer individuals enter therapy with caution. They worry their identities won’t be taken seriously or will be treated as disorders. This fear often leads them to hide who they are in early sessions. The stigma lingers from a time when homosexuality was classified as a mental illness — a definition that was only officially removed in India in 2018.
Sometimes, clients even express shame or speak negatively about their own community. “It’s internalised,” said Dr Akanksha. “It’s something they’ve learned from family, media, and religion. My job is to help them unlearn that shame.”
Some clients feel pressured to fix themselves. “They may agree their identity is the problem,” she noted. Instead of forcing them to come out, Dr Akanksha introduces herself as a queer-affirmative therapist, asks for pronouns, and builds a supportive environment. Her goal is to make therapy a space without judgment.
Medication Can’t Fix Society
For Dr Bhargava, working with LGBTQ+ patients means navigating the line between medical treatment and social distress. “Their mental health symptoms respond to treatment like others,” he said. “But the challenges they face from society are different.”
He noted that some families try to use psychiatric services to “correct” queer identity. However, India’s Mental Healthcare Act of 2017 gives individuals the right to make decisions about their own treatment, and conversion therapy is now banned.
Still, outdated ideas persist in medical training. “We were taught harmful concepts in school,” Dr Bhargava admitted. “There’s still a gap in training around queer mental health.”
Living With Silence
Both doctors highlighted the emotional exhaustion that many queer people live with. “They constantly monitor how they behave and speak,” Dr Bhargava said. “They know when to hide parts of themselves. That survival instinct can be isolating.”
Dr Akanksha added that many are the only queer person in their workplace. They often hear harmful comments, face harassment, and are afraid to talk about their personal lives. “They walk on eggshells,” she said. “Therapy is often the only place they feel free to be themselves.”
The trauma often starts at home. “Families sometimes offer love only if the person suppresses their true identity,” Dr Akanksha said. “Some are forced into marriage, which hurts both them and their partners.” Therapy involves helping clients name and heal from that trauma.
Tools like assertiveness training — which teaches people how to set boundaries and express themselves clearly and respectfully — are essential. Safe online or offline communities also play a big role in healing.
Dr Bhargava shared a case of a queer individual diagnosed with Generalised Anxiety Disorder. After evaluation, it was clear that gender confusion and societal pressure during adolescence were major causes. Treatment included both medication and therapy. The therapy focused on building resilience and fighting negative thought patterns, not changing the person’s identity.
The Need for Inclusive Care
Dr Bhargava believes queer mental health care should not be a niche. “It’s part of inclusive, empathetic care,” he said. Today’s mental health guidelines call for non-judgmental and inclusive approaches as standard practice.
Personalised care is key. For queer individuals, this may include support groups, mindfulness training, and family therapy. These tools help build coping skills and reduce anxiety and suicidal thoughts.
Support Systems Are Growing
Some organisations are already leading the way. The Humsafar Trust’s Sahyog Clinic offers mental health support along with nutrition advice, STI care, and legal help. Manochikitsa Services provides LGBTQ+ counselling in several languages through licensed professionals. The Alternative Story offers trauma-informed, intersectional, and queer-affirmative therapy.
As Pride Month reminds the world to celebrate LGBTQ+ identities, it also calls for deeper conversations. Real progress begins when families, workplaces, and communities offer acceptance and care. Healing starts when shame is replaced by support — and when silence is finally broken.
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