New national report urges UK employers to tackle LGBTQ+ mental health inequality 

A new national report has called for urgent action to address persistent LGBTQ+ mental health inequalities across the UK, with workplaces identified as both a risk and a protective factor in shaping outcomes. 

Queerwell, the national LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing charity, has published LGBTQIA+ Mental Health: Disparities, Barriers, and Interventions, alongside the launch of a new employer-focused initiative, Wellness in the Workspace. 

The report draws on UK and international evidence to show that LGBTQIA+  people are significantly more likely to experience depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal ideation than the general population. More than half of  LGBTQIA+ people in the UK report symptoms of anxiety or depression each year, with even higher prevalence among trans and non-binary people, bisexual individuals,  LGBTQIA+ young people and those with intersecting marginalised identities. 

Crucially, the report states that these disparities are not driven by sexual orientation or gender identity themselves, but by ongoing exposure to stigma, discrimination and exclusion, including within workplaces, healthcare and education systems. 

“This report makes clear that  LGBTQIA+ mental health inequality is not inevitable – it is structural,” said Dr Alessandro De Arcangelis, author of the report. “Where organisations invest in inclusive cultures, affirming support, and early intervention, mental health outcomes improve. Prevention works, but only when people feel safe to be themselves.” 

Workplace culture under the spotlight 

For UK employers, the findings underline the link between inclusion and psychological safety at work. 

The report identifies long waiting lists for mental health services, lack of culturally competent care and non-inclusive environments as significant barriers to support. In workplace contexts, minority stress – the chronic stress faced by marginalised groups, is highlighted as a key contributor to poorer mental health outcomes. 

Queerwell’s new Wellness in the Workspace programme aims to translate the report’s evidence into practical action. The initiative is designed to support employers and education providers to move from reactive, crisis-led approaches to prevention-focused, inclusive wellbeing strategies. 

The programme will help organisations to: 

• Build psychologically safe and inclusive cultures 

• Address minority stress and structural inequality at work 

• Support LGBTQIA+ staff and students through periods of change and uncertainty 

• Embed preventative wellbeing strategies rather than relying solely on crisis response 

Tim Spoor MBE, CEO of Queerwell, said: “Workplaces play a powerful role in either protecting or undermining mental health. Wellness in the Workspace is about moving beyond performative inclusion towards meaningful action, supporting people to thrive, not just cope.” 

A growing expectation on employers 

The report and programme were launched at a panel event hosted by Lloyds on 25 February, bringing together leaders from health, law, education and business to explore the future of workplace wellbeing. 

Chaired by Joseph Galliano, the event featured speakers including Sharmila Kar, Joint Director of Equality & Engagement at NHS Manchester ICP and Manchester City Council, and Anna Bond, Legal Director (Employment) at Lewis Silkin, alongside senior representatives from financial services and higher education. 

The discussion focused on rising mental health need, increasing scrutiny of equality and inclusion, and the growing expectation that employers take responsibility for workforce wellbeing. 

For UK workplace health and wellbeing leaders, the message is clear: inclusive culture is not a peripheral DE&I issue, but a core determinant of mental health. Where employees feel unsafe, unseen or unsupported, mental health risks increase. Where organisations invest in psychological safety and early intervention, outcomes improve. 

As employers face mounting pressure to demonstrate credible, preventative wellbeing strategies, the report positions LGBTQ+ inclusion as central to building healthier, more resilient workplaces across the UK.