Pride at Unmind

‍At Unmind, we’re committed to measurably improving the mental health of 10 million people – that’s at least 700,000 LGBTQ+ people, and we’re sure taking them on our journey.

Since 1970, Pride has been a symbol of progress, celebration and hope to the LGBTQ+ community, and their allies, around the world. Whilst so much has changed since the Stonewall riots of 1969 there is no ignoring that progress is still to be made across many areas of society.

We’re seeing LGBTQ+ people and their rights being challenged across the globe. Be it, the now retracted, draconian laws that Brunei proposed to penalise same-sex relations or the worrying rise in hate crimes targeted at the trans community, especially trans women of colour. For some, progress hasn’t even started - homosexuality is still illegal in 72 countries, and punishable by death in ten.

The LGBTQ+ community and mental health

With regards to mental health, 52% of LGBTQ+ people have experienced depression in the last year and 14% have avoided seeking treatment for fear of discrimination. 1 in 4 LGB workers are not open to colleagues about their sexual orientation and 1 in 8 would not feel confident reporting homophobic bullying in their workplace.

Pride month is a celebration and it is hugely important. But let’s not forget that it originated as a protest and a political statement to help achieve equality and prosperity for all, and we’re not there yet.

“Stigma is insidious, and until we erase from society’s minds that people with mental ill health are ‘unstable’, ‘difficult’ or ‘hysterical’, that message will stick to any community with a higher instance of mental ill health. The higher proportion of mental health issues within the LGBTQ+ community should rather push us to address the systemic issues that might be at play, and offer support and education in a system that often forgets to consider sexuality outside the heteronormative norm.” – Cam Belliat, Client Success Manager, Unmind‍

At Unmind, our approach to equality, diversity and inclusion goes beyond just our own workforce, it sits at the heart of the product that we’re building and the people that we’re building it for.‍

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We celebrate diversity and the uniqueness each of us brings to the world. It's a commitment that whoever you are, regardless of anything at all, we will celebrate you, your gender identity, sexual identity, cultural background or ethnicity. The world becomes a more colourful place the more lenses you put on it.

-‍ Nick Taylor, CEO of Unmind

When Pride month comes to a close on the 8th of July and the rainbow flags come down, let’s celebrate our achievements but let’s not ignore the work that still needs to be done - it doesn’t stop!