Mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Objective

The purpose of this study was to analyse available literature on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

For this scoping review, six electronic databases were searched in three broad topic areas (the COVID-19 pandemic, LGBTQ+ people, mental health) in April 2022. The search yielded 4,285 studies, and after screening them, 61 studies were included in the final review, which were thematically analysed.

Results

Results were organised according to four themes: comparative effects of the pandemic on LGBTQ+ and heterosexual cisgender people’s mental health; mental health impacts; differences in the mental health among LGBTQ+ people; and protective and risk factors. LGBTQ+ people’s mental health was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, particularly when compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. Some sub-populations of LGBTQ+ people were impacted more than others, such as bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. Depression, anxiety, and stress/distress were the most salient mental health issues, though loneliness, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and COVID-related fears were also prevalent. LGBTQ+ people used substances, social media, dating apps, and pornography to cope with the pandemic.

Discussion

Gaps in the literature and study limitations are identified, and recommendations for policy, health services, and future research are offered.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBTQ+
• mental health
• COVID-19
• depression
• anxiety
• distress

Acknowledgements

We would like to acknowledge and thank Shelley McKibbon at Dalhousie University for her guidance and support during the research process.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes

1 The percentages exceed 100% because some of the studies explored multiple mental health issues.

2 According to Sifat et al. (2023):

Hijra are referred to as intersex and comprise a community in South Asia of gender non-conforming people … The Government of Bangladesh took a policy decision in November 2013 to officially recognize the hijra, popularly known in Bangladesh as neither male nor female, as a third gender. (p. 3, italics in original)

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation [grant number R34146].