Depression in LGBTIQ+ Communist Costs Vietnam VND7.8T Every Year
Depression in the LGBTIQ+ community costs Vietnam up to VND7.8 trillion ($325 million) annually, experts shared at the "When LGBT Inclusion is Also an Economic Issue" seminar held in Ho Chi Minh City last week.
Addressing the event, Ms. Ngo Le Phuong Linh, Director of ICS, a nonprofit promoting diversity, inclusion, and equality for LGBT individuals in Vietnam, highlighted healthcare challenges faced by the community.
She noted that some members encounter discrimination at medical facilities, particularly those whose gender expression does not match their official documents, and those living with HIV may face compounded discrimination. Mental health issues, especially among young LGBTIQ+ individuals, show rates of depression and negative coping mechanisms two to three times higher than other groups.
Open For Business, a global coalition of companies advocating for LGBTIQ+ inclusion, stated that discrimination in public healthcare against LGBTIQ+ people is estimated to cost Southeast Asian economies up to 1.24% of their GDP annually.