Introduction - Lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) individuals are often stigmatized and exposed to various forms of heterosexist discrimination and violence. Experiencing violence is associated with an increased risk of mental health disorders and suicidal behavior. Methods - The 2017 Baromètre de Santé publique France is a telephone survey that polled a representative sample of all individuals aged 18 to 75 living in metropolitan France. Four mental health indicators occurring within the past year were examined: a) major depressive episode (MDE); b) current depressive symptoms; c) suicidal ideation; and d) suicide attempts. We use multivariate logistic regression models to examine the association between sexual orientation and each of the mental health indicators, as well as the link between sexual orientation and physical and/or verbal violence experienced in the year preceding the study. Next, we quantify the strength of the mediating effect of exposure to violence on the association between sexual orientation and current depressive symptoms. Results - According to the 2017 Public Health France Barometer, LGB individuals are more affected by mental health disorders: the risk of depressive disorders, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts is at least twice as high compared to the heterosexual population. They are also at greater risk of being victims of physical and/or verbal violence in the year preceding the survey. Mediation analyses show that experienced violence accounts for 25% of current depressive symptoms among LGB individuals compared to heterosexual individuals. Discussion - Our results highlight the importance of initiatives that structurally combat violence and discrimination against LGB individuals in order to prevent mental health problems in this population.