RW - foRWard Health & Wellbeing eMag - Apr26 - Flipbook - Page 17
Pride and wellbeing
theatre. For many
Pride also matters because
visibility and inclusion are closely
tied to health and wellbeing.
Australia’s National Action Plan
for the Health and Wellbeing of
LGBTIQA+ People 2025 to 2035
shows that LGBTIQA+ Australians
continue to experience poorer
health outcomes than the general
population in several areas. One
昀椀gure in the plan reports that 31
per cent of LGBTIQA+ people
had poor or fair self rated health,
compared with 15 per cent of
the general population. Another
reports that 73.2 per cent of
LGBTQA+ adults had at some
point been diagnosed with a
mental health condition, while 57.2
per cent had experienced high or
very high psychological distress.
These numbers help explain
why Pride is not simply cultural
people, it is tied to
safety, af昀椀rmation, mental
health and the basic experience of
feeling seen.
There is also an important
positive side to that story. The
Australian Institute of Health and
Welfare notes that stable support
networks, access to healthcare
and community controlled peer
led services are protective factors
for LGBTQIA+ people. Inclusive
communities, safe workplaces,
af昀椀rming health care and genuine
social support are not extras.
They can make a measurable
difference to wellbeing. That is
one of the clearest reasons Pride
Month still has value in 2026. It
does not just celebrate identity. It
helps strengthen connection.
