Scholars are calling for more bisexual-specific resources and support after findings suggest that bisexual people face certain stressors that other people in the LGBTQ community don't.

Prevention Science published a study from researchers at American University that builds on previous research about the mental health of people in the LGBTQ community; more specifically, it identified particular stressors that lead to mental health problems exhibited by bisexual people. For the study, a total of 503 participants ages 18 to 64 who said they supported attraction to more than one gender were asked questions about their mental health and how they felt bisexuality had impacted their lives.

What did the study find? Past work has already concluded that bisexual people already have an increased likelihood of exhibiting anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts compared with peers who are heterosexual or identify with other sexual minorities. But what led to these mental health issues, researchers noted, was feelings of loneliness and isolation associated with the "double discrimination" many bisexual people deal with.

Often individuals who identify as bisexual feel as if they don't belong in any community. “Bisexual people face double discrimination in multiple settings — bisexual people are often invisible, rejected, invalidated, [and] stigmatized in the heterosexual community as well as the traditional LGBTQ communities,” American University professor and lead study author Ethan Mereish told NBC News. “Given that isolation and discrimination, bi people might be experiencing increase factors that might make them more lonely or isolated.” In turn, this cycle leads to poor mental health and other negative outcomes.

In terms of what this research can do, the study's authors believe it's important for identifying particular support systems and resources to help bisexual people. "Bisexual-specific experiences must be considered independently from the experiences of other sexual minority subgroups to address sexual orientation disparities in mental health," the report concluded. The researchers also hope future research focuses on how other identities intersect with bisexuality and mental health issues, like race and gender.

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