Let’s face it: Being queer in Malaysia sucks. You don’t have access to basic rights. You’re subject to persecution by the state as well as the community at large. You’re at risk of being ostracized by your family and friends.

It is a well-established fact that the LGBT+ community is more vulnerable to mental health issues compared to the cishet population.

The likelihood of having serious mental health issues is up to 8x higher for a person who identifies with the LGBT+ community.

The LGB part of the community is 2x as likely to commit suicide, while the transgendered community is at 10x the risk compared to the general population.

“But,” a senior psychiatrist once told me, “that doesn’t apply to the Malaysian population! We don’t disturb them; I don’t know why they’re always so angry and demanding all the time! Apa lagi LGBT mau?”

Apa lagi LGBT mau indeed.

The research literature for LGBT mental health in Malaysia is severely limited, so I set out to document the feelings and experiences of the marginalized LGBT community. This would end up being the first and largest study of its kind in the country, and paints a concerning picture of the psychological toll exacted by societal and legal pressures on this vulnerable group.

Titled Coping Strategies and Mental Disorders among the LGBT+ Community in Malaysia, I spent over 200 hours clinically interviewing 152 individuals who identify as members of the LGBT+ community – the kind of interview that you would go through when visiting a psychiatrist for the first time to establish a diagnosis.

I found that the prevalence of mental health disorders is more than double that of the general population (80% vs 29%). Similarly concerning, depression is found to occur up to 20 times more (40% vs 2%).

These are very alarming numbers and yet very little attention is given to the mental wellbeing of the queer community in Malaysia. They underscore a pressing need for improved mental health support tailored to our LGBT+ community. However, providing such support is complicated by the legal and societal stigma surrounding LGBT+ identities in the country.

I’m proud of this crucial first step, but more research is needed, particularly in rural areas and with more diverse sampling. The challenges of conducting such research in a conservative environment are significant, but the potential benefits in terms of improved mental health outcomes are immense.

It is my hope that this pioneering study serves as a wake-up call about the significant mental health disparities faced by LGBT+ individuals in Malaysia. There is urgent need for targeted mental health interventions, increased support, and continued research to address these challenges. As we move forward, it’s clear that addressing the mental health needs of the LGBT+ community in Malaysia is not just a matter of health, but of basic human rights and dignity.

Here at Chengal Centre for Mental Health, we understand that each queer experience is unique and vastly different from the general population. We will always keep this in mind to ensure that your treatment will be individualized according to your specific needs.

Dr. J