More than 70 per cent of LGBT people experience mental health problems because of work
Around 26 per cent of people have hidden their sexual orientation at work out of fear of discrimination
By Steve Brown
Words: Steve Brown
More than 70 per cent of LGBT people have experienced mental health issues because of work, a new survey has found.
Commissioned by Business in the Community with HR firm Mercer, the study found that 72 per cent of LGBT people have experienced mental health problems within the work environment due to their sexuality.
Around 26 per cent of LGBT employees said they hidden their sexual orientation over the last year because they were afraid of discrimination.
The results of the survey were published ahead of World Mental Health Day and shows that LGBT people are more likely to be affected by mental health issues.
Only 60 per cent of out employees feel comfortable being open about their sexual orientation at work, while 32 per cent of managers have disguised they are members of the LGBT community after fearing discrimination.
The survey also found 29 per cent of bisexual employees had also hidden their sexual orientation from other members of staff.
Those from black, Asian and minority ethnics were twice as likely to have experiences negativity from customers and clients.
Only seven per cent admitted to being physically attacked by colleagues or customers in the last year.
This increased to 15 per cent for LGBT BAME people and 20 per cent non-binary people.