How to cope with COVID-19 and self-isolation when you’re LGBT+?
Probably every single part of our normal daily routines has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether you had to start working and studying from home, come back to live with your parents or stay in Leeds isolated from your family and friends, the routine that you have been used to most likely had to change for an unknown period of time. However, having to deal with COVID-19 and the anxiety, and uncertainty that comes with it can be incredibly difficult if you’re a part of an already vulnerable community such as LGBT+.
A recent NHS study showed that LGBT+ individuals are almost 40% more likely to be smokers than the general UK population. It is also known that gay and bisexual men in the UK are the population most affected by HIV. Whilst there is no evidence so far to suggest that people living with HIV, who are on effective anti-retroviral therapies with undetectable viral loads, are at increased risk of getting COVID-19 infection or developing severe disease. HIV infection can result in suppression of the immune system and other comorbidities, people living with HIV should be considered a higher risk group than the general population. Not only that but also many people from the LGBT+ community are reluctant to seek medical treatment or report incidents to their GP because of past unpleasant experiences and traumas caused by the healthcare system. Hence delayed access to care and prolonged treatments are already common for the members of the community, even when there is no pandemic going on. However, now, it can be detrimental to seek access to treatment at the right time, especially for people with compromised immune systems.
Of course, if infected with the coronavirus, the majority of our university students wouldn’t experience permanent damage to their physical health because they are not in the age category where it could be the most vital, however, there are serious mental health risks that come with self-isolation or social distancing which could have an enormous effect on anyone’s life, especially those from vulnerable communities. I’ve therefore compiled a list of resources and advice from my personal experiences that could be helpful in dealing with the measures introduced to contain the spread of the virus.
- Stay connected. Social distancing and self-isolation doesn’t mean that you have to stop socialising. In these times with various technological advancements, it is more important than ever to stay connected with your close friends and find a supporting network. A lot of our LGBT+ students had to come back to their home families and consequentially come back to the closet, which can be very difficult. And if don’t have a network of people that supports you wherever you are, the LUU LGBT+ society will always be there for you! Even now we have a very active event schedule and you can join all of the activities organised by us from the comfort of your home. Join the Facebook group and find out what we’re up to in the upcoming weeks!
2. Stay active. Whether it’s a 30 min yoga routine in the morning or a short jog around the house, your physical health can have a tremendous impact on your mental health. You can sign up for Sarah’s Hobson online dance classes, who is a Yorkshire based dance teacher and choreographer. Or even more accessible for everyone is Joe Wick’s YouTube channel where you can join him for PE classes at home.
3. Get involved. In the time of a crisis, what I have noticed the most are all of the incredible initiatives created by people to help each other out. Whether it’s picking up groceries for your elderly neighbour or supplying books and art supplies for people in self-isolation, there are numerous ways to get involved with your community. I want to remind everyone, that volunteering to provide and distribute essentials for people who are most at risk is still allowed following the latest government announcement, volunteers will be classed as key workers and essential travellers. You can sign up to volunteer for organisations like Queercare, who are providing you with tools and guidance on how to help and link you with various organisations around Leeds. However, if you can’t go out and volunteer, there is still plenty you can do if you want to show kindness to others. You can give online tutoring classes for children who are missing out on school, start a new initiative yourself or simply check up on your friends and make sure they are doing okay. Here are some tips for trans and non-binary people who bind their chests from Jack Mack.
4. Rewind. Whilst it seems like we now have way more time in our hands, a lot of people can feel unmotivated and overwhelmed trying to adapt to the current norm of living. Of course, having a study routine is important, but so is understanding that you don’t have to as productive as you were before, read 15 new books or learn a new language now. It is okay to take a break and enjoy this time doing something that you actually love not for the sake of making progress but rather simply because you enjoy doing it. Maybe you will find a new hobby that you had never thought of taking up before. And if you enjoy watching films as much as I do, Leeds Queer Film Festival compiled a list of free Queer films you can watch in the upcoming weeks.
