How Do Hate Crimes Affect Health?

Social, Mental, and Emotional Effects

- Hate crimes often result in:

- physical

- mental

- emotional and social pain for

individuals.

Violence against a person on the basis of gender, sexual

orientation, gender identity, or disability:

- has been identified as one of the greatest public health

crises facing LGBTQ and disabled people.

LGBTQ and disabled are:

- at a greater risk for developing anxiety

- chronic depression

- PTSD than members of other groups are.

Experiencing discrimination, victimization,

or violence also may trigger eating problems

- substance abuse

- unintended pregnancies

- risky sexual behavior and other self-

destructive and health impairing behavior.

People in these group who have been physically assaulted report experiencing the highest levels of distress:

- This emotional distress may manifest in physical ailments and symptoms, leading many of them to delay their health and preventive care, and some may avoid them altogether. 

These groups also report:

- increased healthcare utilization as a results of increased risk

for chronic disease linked stress and discrimination.