Bisexual people make up a significant portion of the LGBTQ+ community—yet they often face unique and under-recognized mental health challenges. Many bisexual individuals experience distinct forms of stigma and invisibility that can deeply affect their well-being.

At Expansive Therapy, we offer affirming therapy that acknowledges these realities and provides a supportive space to process, heal, and thrive.

What the Research Says About Bisexual Mental Health

Numerous studies over the past two decades have highlighted a clear and concerning pattern: bisexual individuals experience disproportionately high rates of mental health challenges compared to both heterosexual and gay/lesbian populations.

Key Findings Include:

• Higher rates of depression and anxiety.
  According to a 2020 study published in JAMA Psychiatry, bisexual adults reported significantly higher levels of psychological distress than their lesbian and gay peers.

  
  

• Increased suicidal ideation and self-harm.
  The Trevor Project’s 2023 National Survey found that bisexual youth were more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts than both heterosexual and gay/lesbian peers.

  
  

• Lower levels of social support.
  Bisexual individuals often report feeling excluded from both heterosexual and LGBTQ+ communities, a phenomenon sometimes referred to as “double discrimination.”

  
  

• Higher rates of substance use.
  Research in Psychological Bulletin (2017) indicated elevated rates of alcohol and drug use among bisexual people, often linked to stress and stigma.

It is crucial to recognize that these disparities are not caused by bisexuality itself, but by the social stigma, invalidation, and erasure bisexual individuals often face—a concept known as minority stress.

Why Are Bisexual People at Higher Risk?

The mental health burden bisexual people face is closely tied to specific societal dynamics, including:

🔹 Biphobia and Stereotyping

Bisexuality is often dismissed as a phase, a form of confusion, or hypersexuality. These stereotypes contribute to internalized shame and undermine self-esteem.

🔹 Invisibility and Erasure

Bisexual individuals may feel invisible in both straight and queer spaces, especially when in a relationship that leads others to assume they are “actually” straight or gay.

🔹 Lack of Representation

Bi+ identities are rarely depicted accurately in media, healthcare, and education. This lack of visibility can lead to feelings of isolation and self-doubt.

🔹 Barriers in Healthcare and Therapy

Many bisexual people report encountering therapists who don’t understand their identity—or worse, dismiss it. This can discourage them from seeking future care.

How Therapy Can Support Bisexual Individuals

Working with a bisexual-affirming therapist can be a powerful step toward healing and empowerment. Here’s how therapy can help:

✅ Affirming and Validating Your Identity

In therapy, you don’t have to explain or justify being bi+. Your identity is honored as real, valid, and deserving of support—regardless of your current relationship or how you label yourself.

✅ Processing Minority Stress and Internalized Biphobia

Therapy helps unpack the internal messages you've absorbed from a biphobic society and offers tools to rebuild self-worth and pride in your identity.

✅ Exploring Complex Relationship Dynamics

Bisexual individuals may face unique relational challenges, such as being misunderstood by partners or navigating polyamory and monogamy. Therapy offers space to clarify your values and needs.

✅ Building Community and Coping Tools

Therapists can help you access bi+ affirming resources and develop skills to manage stress, anxiety, and other challenges that arise from societal pressure.

✅ Creating a Space to Be Fully You

Above all, therapy offers a confidential, judgment-free environment where you can explore all aspects of your identity—without being asked to simplify or fit into a binary box.

Therapy at Expansive Therapy: Affirming, Informed, and Inclusive

At Expansive Therapy, our therapists are trained in LGBTQ+ affirmative therapy and specialize in working with bi+ clients. We’re here to support your mental health with compassion, insight, and deep respect for your lived experience. Contact us today for a free consultation or explore our therapist bios here.