Online event praised by leading mental health charity
Samaritans has praised the first ever Digital Pride for giving more people an opportunity to talk about and celebrate their identity.
The charity helped promote the week-long festival of online and face-to-face events, which culminated in a day of celebrations and live streamed panel debates and performances at Heaven nightclub in London on 30 April.
Digital Pride was created by news and current affairs website Gay Star News in order to give everyone access to a Pride event, simply through owning a smart phone, tablet or PC.
Samaritans CEO Ruth Sutherland said: “Identity and wellbeing are closely linked – when one is compromised, the other often suffers as a result. Enabling anyone from the LGBTI community to take part in Pride, whether they haven’t had a chance to before, or if it might not be safe or easy for them to do so, means many more people can express themselves and feel accepted for who they really are.
“As Samaritans, we also want people all over the UK and Ireland to know that we are here for everyone, to talk about everything, and that includes thoughts and feelings around gender and sexuality. We’re looking forward to seeing how Digital Pride develops for next year.”
I had a breakdown over my fear of coming out and needed treatment in a psychiatric hospital
The Heaven event saw 60 live performers entertaining the crowds, with 33 different speakers taking part in panel discussions, including one on mental health. Panellists suggested that self-medication was widespread in the LGBTI community, with alcohol and drugs being used to cope with anxiety and depression.
Campaigner Jonny Benjamin talked about the effect on him of struggling with his identity: “I had a breakdown over my fear of coming out and needed treatment in a psychiatric hospital. A month in, I wanted to run away and end my life. I realised I would rather kill myself than admit that I was gay. It’s so sad.” He went on to describe how talking to a complete stranger about what he was feeling saved his life.
“This guy spoke to me, he said it would get better. Simple words made such a difference. That was the day my recovery started.”
Across the week, Digital Pride is estimated to have reached more than 6 million people through social media alone.
