However, LGBTI people are much more likely to experience depression and anxiety than the broader population.

They are also at a greater risk of suicide and self-harm. This is not because of sexuality or gender identity.

A major cause of this are the things that people say and do.

A person’s sexuality is not something that can be changed, like buying a new pair of jeans.

LGBTI people, like all Australians, face the same risk factors for mental illness and suicide.

What is different is the violence, prejudice and discrimination they face, simply for being who they are.

This adds an additional and unacceptable layer of risk.

Research clearly indicates that discrimination, abuse (both verbal and physical), exclusion and prejudice are key contributors to the increased rates of depression, anxiety and self-harm among LGBTI populations. Discrimination is a significant issue in the LGBTI community.

Almost half of LGBTI people hide their sexuality or gender identity because they fear violence or discrimination, with young people aged 16 to 24 more likely to do so than any other age group.

Get Around It is committed to raising awareness about these issues and helping to reduce the discrimination faced by LGBTI communities.

Get Around It’s Stop. Think. Consider. campaign, produced in collaboration with LGBTI communities, aims to improve the Wingecarribee community's understanding of discriminatory behavior and the impact it can have on the mental health of LGBTI communities, particularly young people who are at particular risk of suicide and self-harm.

The campaign prompts people to stop the discrimination, think about how comments they make could cause real distress and harm, and consider people who are different from them. 

This campaign is instrumental in helping Get Around It achieve its mission of preventing mentally ill-health and suicide especially in high risk groups.