Finding Lighthouse in the Raging Sea of Expulsion: Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Influence on LGBTQ+ Mental Health in Malaysia

2026/04/03 by Jun Wei Liow, Aron Harold G. Pamoso, Kyle Tan · 1 voice
Psychology · Social Sciences · #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy #African Sexualities and LGBTQ+ Issues #Marriage and Sexual Relationships

paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/26924951.2026.2628744

openalex publication_date 2026/04/03 · openalex created_date 2026/05/05 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/23

Abstract

Drawing textual survey data from 398 LGBTQ+ people in Malaysia, our social determinants of mental health (SDMH)-centered analysis identified two overarching themes: (1) “I don’t belong here nor within myself,” reflecting systemic erasure, identity suppression, and relational alienation; and (2) “They hold space for me to be myself,” highlighting interpersonal affirmation, emotional safety, and indirect forms of recognition-supported healing. The themes illustrate how relational dynamics shape experiences of identity affirmation, intracommunity exclusion, emotion suppression, and indirect forms of affirmation as subtle but crucial mental health resources. Our findings call for culturally attuned, relationship-centered counseling practices for LGBTQ+ individuals in Malaysia.

Citations

• Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence.
• The online survey as a qualitative research tool
• Can I use TA? Should I use TA? Should I not use TA? Comparing reflexive thematic analysis and other pattern‐based qualitative analytic approaches

Discussions

• What happens to mental health when laws, institutions work against your existence? Our new paper examines how structural, institutional, and community forces shape LGBTQ+ mental health in Malaysia—do [bsky, 2 points, 0 comments]

Related

• An exploratory mapping LGBTQ+ research and intervention priorities in Southeast Asia (2025–2035)
• For better and worse? The divergent associations of LGBTQ+ identity importance and salience on mental ill-health in the context of discrimination.
• The social determinants of mental health and disorder: evidence, prevention and recommendations
• Concepts of Mental Health in Malaysia
• Mental Health of Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Youth and Young Adults: Differential Effects of Age, Gender, Religiosity, and Sexual Orientation