“Pride & Resilience”: 5 highlights from Dr. Moon & Raymond Braun
Raymond Braun and Dr. Moon explore the mental health challenges unique to the LGBTQ+ community and offer guidance to those that support them.
Pride is both a celebration and a moment for reflection on the progress and ongoing obstacles faced by the LGBTQ+ community. In their Calm Conversation, Raymond Braun and Dr. Moon discuss the mental health challenges unique to the community, highlighting the importance of building support systems to bolster one’s wellbeing.
Together, they spotlight the importance of self-compassion and allyship in advocating for LGBTQ+ rights and supporting mental health. They also offer guidance for parents of LGBTQ+ children and discuss workplace experiences, providing examples of how HR professionals and colleagues can support LGBTQ+ peers.
Watch the full conversation
5 key highlights from the conversation
Understanding Pride: Pride is a time to celebrate our achievements and reflect on the challenges still faced by the LGBTQ+ community. It's about expressing ourselves freely while acknowledging the discrimination many still endure. To get involved, attend LGBTQ+ Pride events in your community and join discussions on LGBTQ+ rights and issues.
Positive psychology: Resilience and empowerment are key in the LGBTQ+ community, where individuals show remarkable strength in overcoming past discrimination and ongoing challenges. To build resilience, connect with LGBTQ+ support groups or counseling services, and explore opportunities to contribute to community empowerment through advocacy organizations.
Coming out & personal growth: Coming out is a deeply personal journey, and it's essential to honor each individual's pace and provide understanding, acceptance, and encouragement. Educate yourself about the coming out process, offer support to friends or family members who are coming out, and create a safe and affirming space for them to share their experiences. Exploring identity is a big part of being in the LGBTQ+ community. It's about understanding how different parts of who we are come together. You can learn more by reading books, articles, or listening to podcasts that discuss how race, gender, and sexuality intersect. It's also great to chat with and listen to people from different backgrounds to get diverse perspectives.
Parents of LGBTQ+ kids: Support from parents is crucial for the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth. Coming out can be a daunting experience, and having understanding and accepting parents can make all the difference. Parents should prioritize their own education and self-awareness about LGBTQ+ issues to effectively support their children. Creating a safe and affirming environment at home where children feel accepted and loved for who they are is essential. Additionally, seeking out resources such as support groups, counseling, and educational materials can help parents navigate this journey alongside their children with empathy and understanding.
Workplace wellbeing for the LGBTQ+ community: Creating an inclusive workplace is essential for the well-being of LGBTQ+ individuals and directly impacts their mental and physical health. Employers should prioritize policies that prevent discrimination and harassment, along with offering ongoing diversity training to foster empathy among staff. However, it's crucial that training goes beyond education to include actionable steps for addressing issues in the workplace.
Download the “Pride in Practice” resource guide
Download Dr. Moon’s free resource guide: Pride in Practice — a self-empowerment guide to help LGBTQ+ individuals build a strong and authentic self.
About Dr. S.H Moon:
Dr. Moon is a licensed clinical psychologist, DEI consultant, and educator, who is passionate about decreasing mental health stigma in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ communities. As a DEI consultant, she has worked with large companies and health care systems including Microsoft, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Harvard Medical School. Currently, she is a Lecturer in Psychology and Co-Director of the Multicultural Seminar at Harvard Medical School, Assistant Director of Sport Psychology at Oregon State University, and DEI Consulting Psychologist at Boston University. She is also the host of The Cut Fruit Podcast, a show about Queer-Asian experiences. In 2024, Dr. Moon created 3 programs for Calm Health focused on supporting the LGBTQ+ community’s mental health journey.
About Raymond Braun:
Raymond Braun, a Calm contributor, LGBTQ advocate, and marketing executive, launched YouTube's first LGBTQ+ marketing initiative at Google. He's a leading voice for LGBTQ+ issues, serving as a contributing editor for Seventeen magazine, and recognized on Forbes' 30 under 30 list. In 2023, he set two World Records by completing 7 Olympic Distance triathlons on 7 continents in 7 days, marking his recovery journey from OCD. Collaborating with institutions like the White House Summit and Stanford University, he advocates for social impact, promoting diversity, and raising mental health awareness.
Raymond Baun’s Documentary “State of Pride”
Logline: Fifty years after the Stonewall uprising, Oscar®-winning filmmakers Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman and host Raymond Braun travel to three diverse communities – Salt Lake City, San Francisco, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama – for an unflinching look at LGBTQ Pride, from the perspective of a younger generation for whom it still has personal urgency.
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