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

Jun Wei Liow; Aron Harold G. Pamoso; Kyle  Tan

doi:10.1080/26924951.2026.2628744

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

Jun Wei Liow
, Aron Harold G. Pamoso
, Kyle Tan^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Medicine and Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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.

Original language	English
Article number	2
Pages (from-to)	186-209
Number of pages	25
Journal	Journal of LGBTQ Issues in Counseling
Volume	20
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/26924951.2026.2628744
Publication status	Published - 4 May 2026

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10.1080/26924951.2026.2628744Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

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AB - 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.

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

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