Category: Uncategorized

Having Pride… Even When the World Feels Overwhelming

It’s June again, and Pride month this year may feel uniquely challenging for many in our community. For some, this month brings bold feelings of empowerment. For others, this time may feel darker, scarier, and overwhelming – especially when facing personal struggles that can make celebrating feel difficult.

The Reality We Face

Though being part of the LGBTQ+ community is in no way a mental illness, many people who identify as LGBTQ+ experience mental health struggles. About 4.5% of the US population identifies as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender. Of these individuals, 39% report living with a mental illness – that’s nearly 5.8 million people in the US alone who need support.

The challenges extend far beyond mental health awareness. A majority of people who responded to a survey conducted by Mental Health America say that they or someone they love who is LGBTQ+ have been threatened, harassed, or experienced violence due to their sexuality or gender identity.

The employment discrimination is staggering: 59% of respondents feel they have fewer employment opportunities or have experienced discrimination in pay due to their LGBTQ+ identity. This economic instability directly impacts housing security and overall well-being.

In addition, 22% of transgender individuals reported avoiding medical care out of concern about discrimination. This avoidance of care compounds existing challenges and creates cycles that are difficult to break without comprehensive support.

Breaking Down Barriers to Care

When it comes to mental health care and housing services, a lack of cultural understanding, stigma, and discriminatory practices can decrease the quality and effectiveness of support. This leaves individuals feeling unsupported and discourages them from seeking the help they desperately need.

A housing first approach recognizes that stable housing is fundamental to addressing mental health, employment, and other life challenges. For LGBTQ+ individuals facing multiple forms of discrimination, finding safe support becomes even more critical.

We’re Here for You

At Thrive in Hendersonville, we welcome all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, or economic status. To us, people are people. Everyone has a unique background, perspective, struggles, and needs that deserve respect and comprehensive support.

Our programs are designed to meet you exactly where you are, providing individualized care to help you build a foundation for stability and growth.

Our Housing Program provides support for neighbors experiencing homelessness. Our case managers work one-on-one with clients to discover their unique needs and create a plan for the best chance of success.

Our Clubhouse Program offers a mental health day program for adults diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness. This program provides a supportive environment where all identities are celebrated, not stigmatized. Our day program serves as a vital resource for building connections and developing skills to reach individual goals.

Both programs work with each person to create personalized plans that address their unique circumstances and goals.

Additional Resources for LGBTQ+ Support

For more specified help, here are a few national resources that may help:

Remember, Pride isn’t just about celebration – it’s about resilience, community, and the ongoing fight for equality and acceptance. Whether you’re facing housing challenges, mental health struggles, or simply need a supportive community, you don’t have to navigate these challenges alone.

Want to learn more about our programs or how you can get involved? Contact us at 828-697-1581 today.

A group of people throwing confetti and laughing with a rainbow pride flag in the background.

Do you have wellness in your private life?

I recently took a brief break from emails and social media and I found that I was able to think more critically when not inundated with all of the spam mail, advertisements, and status updates.  I was struck that we don’t really have a private life anymore, at least not one that we spend time growing and improving.

Our culture demands transparency and social sharing.  This often leads us to compare ourselves to our social network friends.  There used to be a time when we met in person with our friends and family and looked each other in the eye and discussed what we wanted out of life, what we needed to do to achieve that, and received wisdom from those who had gone before us.  Don’t get me wrong, social media has its place and who doesn’t like to get all those Happy Birthday posts from your entire friend list?!

Author Gordon MacDonald wrote “Ordering Your Private World” where he identifies your inward character as your private world.  How can we really increase our wellness if we are so focused on everyone else’s status update?  Our status updates tend to be the highlights of our life… what race we just completed, what fabulous meal we just devoured, what trip we just took, etc.  Is that really wellness?  We may think that those activities show wellness but I would contend that the private times with our family and friends really show how well we are.

If we are dissatisfied, fearful, lonely, argumentative, or just have trouble connecting with anyone on a deep level then we need to change something.  I won’t pretend to know what each reader may be experiencing, but I challenge you to look at your own life and your own character to determine what you need to grow.

coffee dateSocial media can provide encouragement and can help you stay connected to people that live far away from you, but it also provides much distraction. We forget to look each other in the eye, go on a walk with your best friend, play a board game with your children, or simply hold your spouse’s hand while watching the sun set.

What are you willing to give up to reconnect with your friends, family, character, and private life?