Background:
Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) experience an elevated burden of stress, anxiety, and depression compared with heterosexuals. SGM is a hidden population in Nepalese society and there is little known about that burden and the factors generating it in the context of Nepal. The study aimed to identify mental health status and perceived discrimination and resilience among SGM in Kathmandu valley, Nepal.

Methodology:
A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 158 SGM. An online self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain the information related to DASS-21(Depression anxiety stress scale), EOD (Experience of discrimination), and CD-RISC-10 (Connor Davidson Resilience Scale) using a standard tool. Data analysis was done according to the standard scoring procedure to compute the prevalence of stress, anxiety, depression, perceived discrimination, and resilience level among SGM respectively.

Results:
Of 158 participants, 48.7% reported gay sexual orientation and 58.2% reported their gender identity as cisgender men. Among the total participants, 53.8% were current smokers and 80.4% had consumed alcohol in the past 12 months. The prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among SGM was found 82.3%, 65.2%, and 74.1% respectively. 88.6% of SGM faced discrimination in at least one setting where higher discrimination was reported in a public place like a street or park (63.3%). Nearly 25% of participants showed a low level of resilience.

Conclusion:
The results highlight a high burden of stress, anxiety, and depression and a higher discrimination among SGM of Kathmandu valley. Further, the mental health status among SGM needs to be researched and explored by identifying the factors associated with poor mental health outcomes.