Supporting LGBTQIA+ Mental Health During Pride Month

Written By Matt Glynn

The Courage of Being Seen

Pride Month is a time for celebration, remembrance, and visibility—but for many in the LGBTQIA+ community, it can also bring up complex emotions. While Pride offers opportunities to connect with affirming spaces and honor identity, it can also highlight feelings of isolation, anxiety, or distress—especially in the face of ongoing societal challenges.

Recent headlines and policy shifts have added stress for some LGBTQIA+ individuals, particularly as diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs face increased scrutiny or are scaled back in certain areas. Even the mere proposal of restrictive legislation can take a toll on mental health, contributing to fear, hypervigilance, and exhaustion—especially for those who have experienced discrimination or erasure in the past.

Practicing mindfulness isn’t about avoiding hard truths. It’s about strengthening your ability to stay rooted in yourself, even when the world feels uncertain. It’s a practice of self-compassion and resilience.

Mindfulness as a Tool for Resilience

In times of heightened stress or uncertainty, mindfulness can be a powerful practice for reclaiming calm and presence. Mindfulness is simply the act of bringing gentle, nonjudgmental awareness to the present moment. It doesn’t require special equipment or hours of silence—just a willingness to pause and notice.

Some ways LGBTQIA+ individuals might use mindfulness during Pride Month include:

  • Grounding exercises during overwhelming moments, such as naming five things you can see or feel in your environment.

  • Mindful breathing to regulate your nervous system—inhale slowly, exhale even slower.

  • Setting boundaries with media and social platforms that may be triggering or draining.

  • Creating affirming rituals, like journaling, meditating with pride-themed music, or simply making space for joy.

Practicing mindfulness isn’t about avoiding hard truths. It’s about strengthening your ability to stay rooted in yourself, even when the world feels uncertain. It’s a practice of self-compassion and resilience.

You’re Not Alone

If you're looking for affirming support or want to explore mindfulness-based tools in therapy, Caravelle Counseling & Wellness is here to support you. Together, we can create space for you to feel seen, grounded, and whole.

Whether you’re celebrating loudly this Pride Month or honoring it in quiet, private ways, your mental health matters. Marginalization and resilience often coexist—but healing is possible, and help is available at these trusted local resources:

New Orleans

  • CrescentCare – Known for its acceptance of LGBTQ+ patients, offering behavioral health counseling, substance use counseling, and psychiatry at their St. Roch and Mid City locations.

  • New Orleans Lambda Center – A safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals in recovery, hosting various 12-step meetings, including AA, NA, and SAA.

  • PFLAG New Orleans – Provides support for families and friends of LGBTQ+ individuals, with monthly support meetings in New Orleans, Mandeville, and Slidell.

North Shore (Slidell & Surrounding Areas)

  • Queer Northshore – Promotes LGBTQ+ visibility, community, and acceptance in Louisiana’s Northshore Region, hosting events and providing educational resources.

  • Connect Northshore – A dedicated advocate, resource, and community hub for LGBTQIA+ individuals on the Northshore, offering health resources and advocacy programs.

Matt Glynn