“Most often, they come from both places,” says Kyle Bonner, LCSW, LCADC, Diversity Equity Inclusion Coordinator at Penn Medicine Princeton Health. “Socially inflicted traumas come from things like being bullied and being excluded or judged by family. Then there are the self-inflicted traumas that usually develop because of those societal traumas, including shame, anger, and sadness. The result can be emotional pain and distress because you are not living a life that is authentic to who you are.”
Gay men may experience chronic depression and anxiety, and have a greater risk for substance abuse and suicide than other men, according to Bonner.
Seeking Support
Despite being at greater risk for a range of mental health conditions, gay men often are hesitant to seek treatment because they worry about being judged and because they have spent so much of their lives keeping their true selves hidden. Taking that first step toward treatment can seem daunting.
At Penn Medicine Princeton House Behavioral Health, gay men struggling with trauma and its effects have access to care that is inclusive and accepting of all patients regardless of sexual identity or orientation. The Men’s Program serves as a safe environment for men who have experienced trauma that is impacting their well-being and overall functioning.
“The goal is to work through the guilt and shame and cultivate your authentic self,” says Bonner. “Finding contentment so you can be your authentic self is key.”
For more information about the Men’s Program at Princeton House, call 888.437.1610, option 2 (outpatient), or visit princetonhouse.org/men.
 All of Penn Medicine’s hospitals, including Princeton Health, have been honored by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, the educational arm of the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, for their dedication and commitment to LGBTQ+ inclusion.
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