Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Community:

An Interview with Felix Mufti from 'Sex Education' S4

By Margot Duga

December 22, 2023

Credit : @bloom_creative_studio

Known for his role as Roman in 'Sex Education' Season 4, actor Felix Mufti opens up about his mental health journey as a trans person. In this interview, he discusses personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of intention in understanding the LGBTQ+ community. Felix also shares his coping strategies, from taking breaks from screens and social media to finding comfort in hobbies. As an advocate and member of the LGBTQ community, the actor boldly challenges gender norms and concludes with a powerful message—embracing Queerness is an empowering journey toward authenticity. 

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To begin, would you be comfortable sharing some of your personal experiences on your mental health journey ?

When I was younger, I severely struggled with my mental health and found it very difficult to enjoy my life. I was very anxious about how I came across to other people and I was very nervous in general. I found it difficult to motivate myself and spent a lot of time alone in my room. As I got older and more physically and mentally comfortable, my mental health started to improve and I am in a much better place. It can still be hard to navigate my reality sometimes but I remind myself to separate myself from people’s opinions and this always re-centres me.

Members of the LGBTQ+ community are often prone to mental health challenges. What key issues or stigmas have you observed within the community, and what steps do you believe can be taken to address them ?

A lot of people are scared to befriend trans people due to stigma, they assume trans people will get offended easily and that they’ll say the wrong thing. This is not true and what really matters is intention. Not everyone has the same education on social issues and no one expects you to know everything. Just approach conversations with an open mind and that is more than enough !

Mental health can be a complex and ongoing journey. Are there particular coping strategies, self-care practices, or sources of support that have been especially helpful to you during tough times ?

Yes, I always make sure to engage in hobbies and activities far away from a screen. I sometimes develop habits of doom scrolling and it creates a sense of my life being defined by social media and the negativity circulating within such easy access. I make sure to keep up reading as it helps with my attention span and puts me in other worlds. I also like to get away to quiet places where the noise of society can’t be heard. This helps me cope with difficult times and remind myself of what’s important.

As an advocate and member of the LGBTQ+ community, what, in your opinion, does society need to understand better about the intersection of gender identity, sexuality, and mental health ?

I think people need to understand that as trans people, we are redefining what gender means to us and removing ourselves from the pressures of gender roles. In doing this, it benefits everybody. Whether you are trans or not, everyone wins by not conforming to what is expected of them. Our gender does not signify how we should act or behave and it does not dictate our place in society.

As we wrap this up, I would like to ask you one last question. Your impact on the entertainment industry, as well as your role as a mental health and LGBTQ+ advocate has the potential to inspire and educate many. What message/ advice would you give to those who may be struggling with their mental health or facing challenges in coming to terms with their gender identity or sexual orientation ?

I would like to tell everybody that by being Queer people, we take autonomy over our lives and value living authentically. These are two necessities to living a happy and fulfilling life. We have made commitments to ourselves to exist truthfully and this is something that can never be taken away from us. Being queer is a blessing. It is a blessing to know yourself so well and create the life for yourself that you know your heart is telling you to. Never let anyone get between you and your purpose. Your purpose is to live wonderfully and stay true to yourself!