March marks Bi+ Health Month, an annual initiative led by the Bisexual Resource Center and allied organizations, shedding light on the health disparities within the bisexual plus (bi+) community. Individuals identifying as bisexual, pansexual, or fluid encounter distinct challenges and stressors within the LGBTQ+ community that significantly impact mental health.
The “State of Higher Education Study,” conducted by Gallup and Lumina, has revealed that mental health strain or stress is a leading factor prompting college students, particularly those identifying as bi+, to contemplate quitting. Understanding and addressing these unique stressors is crucial for improving mental health outcomes within this community.
Research consistently shows that LGBTQ+ individuals face higher rates of mental health struggles compared to their heterosexual and cisgender counterparts. These disparities are attributed to minority stress, arising from discrimination and stressful experiences within homophobic and transphobic cultures. Alarmingly, bi+ individuals exhibit the highest rates of mental health challenges, including depression, suicide, and nonsuicidal self-injury.
Four key stressors impacting the mental health of bi+ individuals are identified:
Double Discrimination: Bi+ individuals face discrimination from both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities, experiencing prejudice related to biphobia and monosexism. Monosexism propagates beliefs that attraction to one gender is more legitimate, leading to stereotypes and discrimination against bisexual individuals.
Internalized Binegativity: Many bi+ individuals struggle with internalized binegativity or internalized monosexism, absorbing negative messages about bisexuality. This internalization can contribute to higher levels of mental health difficulties such as depression and anxiety.
Bi-Erasure: Monosexism fuels bi-erasure, wherein cultural messages dismiss bisexuality as a phase or invalid identity. Bi+ individuals often face assumptions about their sexuality based on their current partner’s gender, leading to denial, ignorance, or invalidation of their lived experiences.
Identity Uncertainty: Bi+ individuals may grapple with uncertainty about the accuracy or legitimacy of their chosen identity. This uncertainty, influenced by societal attitudes and bi-erasure, can lead to feelings of not being “queer enough” and may result in disconnection from the LGBTQ+ community, impacting mental health.
Addressing these stressors is essential for the well-being of bi+ individuals. Strategies to enhance mental health include active participation in LGBTQ+ communities, especially bisexual-specific groups, engaging with media portraying positive bi+ characters, and seeking therapy from licensed mental health professionals, particularly those who identify as bi+ or bi-affirmative.
While eliminating societal biases remains a long-term goal, fostering supportive environments and affirming identities can contribute to improved mental health outcomes for the bi+ community.
