About
Why the work is being done
The biggest challenge LGBT + community/Proud Trust is how Covid-19 has compounded isolation/loneliness and mental health distress.
Prior to Covid-19 - Queer Futures Report - Understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual and Trans (LGBT) adolescents’ suicide, self-harm/help-seeking behaviour showed:
- (70.8%, n=527) experienced direct abuse/negative interactions about sexual/gender identity
- (74.1%, n=533) indicated not being able to talk about feelings/emotions (in relation to mental health, sexuality/gender identity) influencing self-harm/suicidal feelings.
Young LGBT+ people internalise negativity/invalidation experienced at school, home or social media.
This situation has worsened during Covid-19:
BBC reported that distress was high amongst LGBT young people in lockdown with homophobic parents, with no escape.
The Proud Trust survey of 67 young people during Covid-19 showed:
- 76% said their mental health had got worse
- 58 % said their level of physical activity had decreased, affecting their physical/mental wellbeing
- 21% said their experience of LGBT phobia had got worse with some having to go “back in the closet” because of self-isolation with homophobic, biphobic/transphobic family
- 50% have not been able to access health care they needed.
Problem to solve
As an LGBT+ Charity we have seen a large increase in young LGBT+ people seeking support. They are struggling with mental health due to isolation/discrimination, especially in rural areas and those also in other high risk groups (e.g. Black, disabled, in-care, or from strict faith communities). They need easy digital and phone access to trusted adults, including LGBT+ identifying people, and non-judgmental resources to help support them to understand and accept their identity, and build connections.
As a result of this support they will say:
a. How I feel has improved
b. I have more and better life skills
c. I have a better life situation.
Who are the users and what do they need to do
Our users are 3,657 young people, 310 schools, 250 partner youth groups across the UK, 1950 professionals trained and 144 volunteers.
Young people who struggle around gender/sexuality and/or LGBT phobia are primary beneficiaries and need to be able to speak to a trusted adult for support, and have access to online resources.
In our research ‘Getting it Right’, 84% of LGBT+ young people said the most important thing for them is safe spaces, including online. They said their top 3 needs were – advice on coming out; meeting supportive people; breaking down isolation.
They said:
- “More individualised, direct messaging and Facebook groups would be helpful.”
- 36% said they would not feel able to seek support from somewhere that was not specifically LGBT+.
- 68% said “talking online is easier for me.”
Of these:
- 95% said it is because it can be anonymous;
- 50% said online is more accessible than meeting face-to-face.
Our NESTA-funded six month pilot of an online mentoring service showed while many young people want one-off support, more than half want to be able to speak to the same person again, sometimes multiple times.
We will therefore explore providing direct messaging (one-off and repeat mentor/supporter), plus online factual, content that is non-judgmental.
The secondary beneficiaries are trusted adults such as teachers and social workers, who will have access to the online suite of resources, to help them better support young people in their care around LGBT+ issues.