LGBTQIA+ advocacy group Equality Tasmania and mental health advocates Working It Out have applauded the State Government’s announcement of several important LGBTIQ+ mental health initiatives.

Premier and Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Jeremy Rockliff, this week released the 2022-23 implementation plan for the state’s mental health strategy.

The strategy identifies LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians as one of three priority groups due to the much higher levels of mental health risk for this community, resulting primarily from discrimination and stigma.

The plan includes:

• Funding to develop a Tasmanian LGBTIQ+ mental health service model
• Funding for LGBTIQ+ inclusion training to be made mandatory for all health department employees
• Establishing already-funded LGBTIQ+ peer navigators in the north and north west of the state
• Assessment of all Department of Health services for LGBTIQ+ inclusion

Working It Out’s acting CEO, Olivia Hogarth, congratulates the Tasmanian Government on these initiatives.

“Working It Out welcomes a plan which addresses recommendations from both state and national reports regarding the increased mental health risks for LGBTIQ+ people,” Hogarth said.

“As Tasmania’s only dedicated LGBTIQ+ support and education service, Working It Out looks forward to working with the state government to further understand the lived experience of the LGBTIQ+ communities, recognise the gaps in the mental health sector, and develop a model that will best address those needs and gaps.”

Equality Tasmania board member, Andrew Badcock, adds that “because of discrimination and stigma, LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians, especially those who are trans and gender diverse, have some of the worst mental health outcomes in Tasmania.”

“The State Government is to be applauded for taking positive steps towards reducing the higher-than-average levels of mental health distress experienced by LGBTIQ+ Tasmanians.”

“We will continue to campaign to ensure the mental health service model the government will develop becomes a reality.”

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With Pride Month celebrations underway across the world, Lifeline WA is reminding Western Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community to reach out for help when they need it.

Lifeline WA said research shows members of the LGBTIQA+ community are more likely to struggle with depression, suicide and anxiety.

Digital crisis supporter Nathan said he has been privileged to be on the end of the phone – via call or text – when people in crisis take the brave step to reach out.

Nathan said in the past there were few services in the community to help people who were questioning their sexuality or their gender.

Now 32, he’s proud to be able to use his lived experience to give back to his community and support LGBTQIA+ youth who reach out through Lifeline WA’s digital service.

“There are a lot of people who identify as LGBTQIA+ who feel safe and included and able to reach out to the service, which is amazing,” Nathan said.

“I identify as a gay man, but when I was a young person, I didn’t know of any services similar to Lifeline, let alone anything in the community.

“It’s good to know that Lifeline WA, amongst other services, is available for young people that are questioning their sexuality or their gender and might be in a difficult space due to that.”

Nathan said that for many young people, particularly in the LGBTQIA+ community, remaining anonymous helped people to be more open and honest with how they were feeling and open up about feelings of anxiety, depression, and suicide.

“Opening up the safe space to have that conversation about suicide in a gentle way is really important because in the community and in society, as we know, there has been and there still is a big stigma around suicide and mental health.

“It’s incredibly powerful to be able to open up that conversation and allow people to talk about it in a way where they don’t feel judged, where they feel that they can be open and honest. And that helps to lower distress.”

Lifeline WA CEO Lorna MacGregor said research had shown that many people within the LGBTIQA+ community were overrepresented in statistics for anxiety, depression and suicide.

“We know that the issues impacting people within the LGBTIQA+ community are complex and varying, and unique to each individual person,” Ms MacGregor said.

“At Lifeline WA, we want to spread the message that no one is alone, and help is always only a phone call, text or chat away.”

The digital service, which was launched in November, was made possible in WA thanks to the incredible support of Lifeline Australia and The Channel 7 Telethon Trust.

Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is available on 13 11 14.

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight) QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

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New research from the Monash University Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice has found that queer young people in Australia face disproportionate challenges in contrast to their heterosexual peers in key areas such as education, health and employment.

A comprehensive survey of more than five hundred young Australians aged 18-24, and in-depth interviews with an additional 30, encompassed areas such as education, employment, technology, health and wellbeing, finances, housing, civic participation and the impact of COVID-19.

The findings reveal more needs to be done urgently to ensure safe and inclusive communities, and offers particularly striking insights in relation to three key areas: mental health and wellbeing, education and employment.

Among a wide list of findings from the report released this week, Queer Young People in Australia: Insights from the 2021 Australian Youth Barometer, the researchers have found that queer young people are disadvantaged in many areas.

The research found that respodents were 33% more likely to experience significant stress about interacting with other students than cisgender/heterosexual young people.

They also discovered that queer youth were 21% less likely to feel like they belong at their educational institution than cisgender/heterosexual young people.

The survey found queer youth were 85% more likely to feel pessimistic or very pessimistic about working in a meaningful job and 1.4 times more likely to rate their own mental health as poor or very poor.

Queer youth were also 71% more likely to have sought but not received mental health support in the last two years

Co-author of the report Professor Lucas Walsh said that by reporting on the disproportionate challenges faced by queer young people, the report aims to highlight how these experiences reflect broader systemic influences in our society.

Professor Lucas says more needs to be done by all levels of government as a matter of urgency.

“While queer young people are well aware of the challenges faced by their community, their concerns are not being heard, especially by the Australian Government and particularly during this election. We need to be doing more to create safer schools and in the provision of mental health and wellbeing support.”

Blake Cutler, the lead author of the report and researcher at the Centre for Youth Policy and Education Practice, says schools should be places of care and safety where young people can thrive, and yet for many this is not the case.

“For many queer young people, schools are places where they face regular harassment and discrimination. These negative experiences contribute to poorer wellbeing outcomes and queer young people face significant challenges when accessing crucial queer-affirming health and mental health care. The onus to address these issues is on us all,” Cutler said.

OIP Staff, image: stock image

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The poor mental health outcomes of LGBTIQ+ Victorians comes at an economic and financial cost estimated to be as high as $3 billion claims research released today.

Commissioned by Thorne Harbour Health, the report findings from Deloitte show the rate of lifetime mental health for LGBTIQ+ Victorians is 73%, significantly higher than the 46% among the general population.

LGBTIQ+ Victorians are estimated to make up to 10% of the state’s population and their mental health outcomes are driven by a complex set of factors including systemic discrimination and marginalisation within society and the health system more broadly.

“When you look at the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide, the message is clear – LGBTIQ mental health is in crisis,” said Thorne Harbour Health CEO Simon Ruth.

“For the first time, we can actually see what this crisis costs our communities as well as a compelling economic case for why investing in LGBTIQ+ mental health can benefit all Victorians,” he said.

Luke Condon, Engagement Partner at Deloitte, said the research will allow for a better understanding of the level mental health challenges people experience.

“This comprehensive study clearly shows the economic cost of adverse mental health outcomes in the LGBTIQ+ population and the findings will help us to better understand the prevalence and costs associated. Inclusion enables both participation and productivity and therefore contributes to all Australians. This is an important piece of work on an important issue.”

The full report The Cost of Adverse Mental Health Outcomes in the LGBTIQ+ Victorian Adult Population as well as a summary report are available from the Thorne Harbour Health website at: thorneharbour.org/deloittereport

What were identified as the drivers of poor mental health?

• Systemic discrimination and marginalisation within society and within the health system
• Individual and collective trauma from past criminalisation and policing of our identities
• The impact of so-called conversion practices
• Isolation from community in regional and rural areas
• Increased drug and alcohol use
• The unique community impacts of suicide
• The intersections of other marginalised identities.

The researchers call for investment in LGBTIQA+ specific mental health services that are run by the community’s organisations. Noting that services need to be culturally diverse.

The researchers say there is also room for improvement in mainstream mental health services to ensure that they are welcoming of LGBTIQA+ clients, highlighting that more focus needs to be put on early intervention strategies.

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The Freedom Centre are hosting a LGBTIQA+ Wellbeing Workshop on the 18^th and 19^th June at ECU Joondalup.

This is a weekend long workshop for LGBTIQA+ youth aged 15 – 26 years, where they spend the weekend making new friends, enjoying fun activities, eating free food, learning new and important information and how to access LGBTIQA+ friendly services.

Participants will also be offered the chance to participate in the SafeTALK suicide alertness training and receive a certificate.

The workshop is aimed at people aged 15 – 26, but people under 15 can attend if they have parental consent.

Head here to sign up, and get in touch with Nikita Miller for any inquiries.

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This week is International Lesbian Visibility Week, launching April 26 with Lesbian Visibility Day.

Celebrated since the 1990s, the occasion is an opportunity to mark the achievements of LGBTQIA+ women and gender diverse people who feel an affinity with a lesbian identity.

Moving beyond representation in media and on screen, Australia’s peak body for queer health LGBTIQ+ Health Australia say visibility is crucial to health and wellbeing.

“Being seen – often quite literally – can foster identity affirmation and a sense of self-worth,” LGBTIQ+ Health Australia said in a statement.

Pointing to poorer health outcomes of LBTQIA+ women and non-binary people, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia note that 49% of queer women between 16 and 71 had received a diagnosis of a mental health disorder, while just 1% had reported being treated for such disorders in the last three years.

“This isn’t just the case for media representation but is equally important in the areas of health (physical and mental) and community services. It’s crucial that lesbians are represented in these areas and experience ‘affirmative visibility’ in order to feel comfortable and safe accessing care, support and resources.”

The organisation also emphasises the importance of including all women and gender diverse people in all aspects of life, from service provision to health care to community events.

“Lesbians can identify many different ways, they can be cisgender women, trans women, non-binary, gender non-conforming, intersex and many more.”

“For a number of reasons there is not a lot of data available on these intersections which can increase people’s vulnerability and invisibility but it is important to note the different ways lesbians might identify.”

According to the Private Lives 3 survey, Australia’s largest survey of LGBTQIA+ lives, lesbians make up 20.5% of Australia’s LGBTQIA+ community. Further, 41% of cisgender women who responded to the survey were lesbians, while 34% of trans women and 9.2% of non-binary folks also used the term.

UK advocacy organisations DIVA and Stonewall are celebrating the week by providing a central point for international online events that can be accesses from around the globe.

Some of the still-expanding program’s highlights include the DIVA Talks series, a roundtable discussion on neurodivergence & queerness, ‘herstory’ project Last Butch Lesbian Bars and Don’t Be A Drag, Just Be A King: Lesbian Visibility on the Drag Scene.

For more information on these events, head to lesbianvisibilityweek.com

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

The post Connect with community this Lesbian Visibility Week appeared first on OUTinPerth.

Warning: This article contains mentions of domestic violence and suicide.

Australia’s peak body for LGBTIQ+ health has welcomed many measures in the just-released 2022-23 Budget, but warns LGBTIQ+ communities are being left behind.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) is calling for specific funding measures that will directly address LGBTIQ+ needs and priorities.

While the Budget provides for investments in mental health and suicide prevention, aged care and domestic, family and sexual violence prevention, is it mostly unclear how LGBTIQ+ communities will specifically benefit.

“LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations are unable to meet the demand for their services and we need urgent investment to address the health disparities LGBTIQ+ people and communities continue to live with,” says Nicky Bath, CEO of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia.

“Investment into generalist services does not necessarily translate into a direct health benefit for LGBTIQ+ people and there needs to be an urgent reassessment of funding processes when engaging generalist organisations to provide services and programs to LGBTIQ+ communities.”

The Budget has committed to funding for the National Preventative Health Strategy 2021 – 2030, where LGBTIQ+ communities are listed as a priority population, and a 6-month extension of emergency COVID-19 funding will be committed to QLife – Australia’s premier mental health crisis service for LGBTIQ+ folks.

$104.4 million will also be invested to expand the reach of Our Watch, a national domestic, family and sexual violence prevention organisation, with a provision to improve their reach in diverse communities.

Despite being identified as a priority population in a range of existing national strategies, LGBTIQ+ health remains without direct funding to LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations. Of the recommendations made in LHA’s pre-budget submission, none were funded in the 2022-23 Budget.

LGBTIQ+ people are more likely than the general population to experience poor health outcomes, and these are linked to experiences of discrimination, stigma, and exclusion. Current research shows that LGBTQA+ young people aged 16 to 17 were almost five times more likely to have attempted suicide in their lifetime.

LHA is calling on all parties and independent candidates in the upcoming federal election to commit to its election priorities, which support the health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ+ people.

These priorities include ensuring safe and appropriate aged care services, inclusion of LGBTIQ+ lives in the Census, investment in LGBTIQ+ community-controlled health organisations and protection of human rights for intersex people.

“LGBTIQ+ community-controlled organisations across Australia undertake incredible work to support our communities,” Bath continued.

“These organisations urgently need funding to build their stability, sustainability, and capacity to meet the needs of LGBTIQ+ communities. Without this investment, the health disparities we see in available data will only continue.”

OIP Staff

Do you need some support?

If you are struggling with anxiety or depression, support and counselling are available from:

QLife: 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au (Webchat 3pm – midnight)
QLife are a counselling and referral service for LGBTQIA+ people.

DISCHARGED: info@discharged.org.au / discharged.org.au
Discharged is a trans-led support service with peer support groups for trans and gender diverse folks.

Lifeline: 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au

Beyondblue: 1300 22 4636 / www.beyondblue.org.au

You can support our work by subscribing to our Patreon
or contributing to our GoFundMe campaign.

The post Health advocates say LGBTIQ+ communities left behind in Budget appeared first on OUTinPerth.

LGBTQ role models, allies and others dedicated to LGBTQ inclusion within the Australian health and wellbeing sector will come together at the end of March for the first-ever Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards, to celebrate outstanding achievements in making their organisations safe and inclusive for sexuality and gender diverse people.

The Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards is the first celebration of its kind dedicated solely to recognising exceptional efforts in making health and wellbeing organisations across the country more inclusive of LGBTQ people. It is produced by Pride in Health + Wellbeing, the national not-for-profit inclusion program for the health, wellbeing, human services, and community care sector, spearheaded by Australia’s largest LGBTQ health organisation ACON.

To be held on online on 30 March and emceed by ABC journalist Mon Schafter and with a keynote address by Board Director of ACON and co-founder of GenderQ Dr Atari Metcalf, the Australian Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards will honour people and organisations across the country for their achievements in creating the best in practice, innovation and person-centred care.

The Awards also showcases the results of the Pride in Health + Wellbeing Equality Index (HWEI) – the national benchmarking instrument used to assess LGBTQ inclusion within the sector.

Launched in 2017, the HWEI was developed and based on the success model of the Australian Workplace Equality Index (AWEI), which similarly measures, benchmarks and successfully shifts practice in LGBTQ inclusion within Australian workplaces.

The Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards will feature a suite of leading sector figures, including Pride in Health + Wellbeing co-patrons, leading doctor and LGBTQ health advocate Dr Kerryn Phelps AM and former Telstra Group Executive Michael Ebeid AM, as well as guest appearances from the Victorian Commissioner for LGBTIQ Communities Todd Fernando and National Mental Health Commission Chair Lucinda Brogdon AM.

Claire Allen, National Program Manager of Pride in Health + Wellbeing, says by raising awareness of the efforts being made within the health and wellbeing sector towards improving and delivering quality LGBTQ inclusive programs and services, we can achieve better health and wellbeing outcomes for sexuality and gender diverse communities.

“Our communities are extremely diverse and face a number of shared and distinct health and social inclusion issues,” Ms Allen said.

“We know that when LGBTQ individuals require access to health and wellbeing services, they often hit more roadblocks, refrain from accessing critical services, often as a result of past experiences of discrimination or perceived prejudices, and as a result, experience poorer health and wellbeing outcomes than the wider population.

“It’s a very serious issue and since Pride in Health + Wellbeing’s inception in 2017, providers across the board and across the country have stepped up to take action to ensure they provide a sufficient duty of care to everyone.

“It’s important to acknowledge and celebrate the many achievements that have been made in the greater inclusion of LGBTQ people so that our communities can see where progress is being made.”

Pride in Health + Wellbeing co-patron Dr Kerryn Phelps said: “These awards are a tribute to those workers who stand tall for LGBTQ communities.”

Allen added: “The Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards allows us to celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations in improving and promoting LGBTQ inclusion within the Australian health and wellbeing sector.”

The 2022 Australian Pride in Health + Wellbeing Awards is on Wednesday 30 March 6pm – 7.30pm AEDT. For more information and to buy tickets, click here.

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Walkern Katatdjin (Rainbow Knowledge) is a peer-led national research project, seeking to hear from the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ people with mental health, wellbeing and support.

The groundbreaking project will focus on the lives of young people, using interviews and yarning groups and a national survey to lead into co-design with LGBTQIA+ young people and services.

The research will also help provide essential information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives not readily available to lawmakers and service providers seeking to develop meaningful inclusion in mental health service provision.

Research team members Lulkbudia McLean and Shakara Liddelow-Hunt joined Danielle Brigoli on RTRFM to tell OUTinPerth and All Things Queer more about the project.

“What we’re really looking to do is understand the mental health and social and emotional wellbeing for young Aboriginal LGBTQ+ mob,” Shakara explains.

“We started by yarning with young mob here in Perth and we’re now looking to launch a national survey.”

“Once that’s all wrapped up and we have some actual data to work with, we’re going to start doing some co-design with young mob here in Perth and also with services so we can sit down, have a yarn and actually work out – what can we put together that’s actually going to help young mob and be tailored for them.”

Lulkbudia adds that the project and co-design will give queer Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people a voice and allow their experiences to be heard.

“I really love the process of co-design, that means that it’s created by community, for community. We know that queer First Nations people, they know what they are needing from these services and what is lacking.”

“We can all form together to actually work and create these interventions themselves, which is really important. We’re going to get everyone to share their stories, then we’re actually going to go in and make those interventions.”

“You may be able to go to an Aboriginal health service, but then that might not be queer friendly, and you can go to an LGBTQI+ service but then that’s not culturally safe.

“It’s really speaking from my own perspective as a queer First Nations woman that caused me to look at my identity as something that’s disjointed,” Lulkbudia continues.

“I’ve got my cultural identity, and I’ve got my queer identity and those are two different things – but if we’re having services that cater to both of those things and see you as an individual and those identities overlapping, being a part of one another, and having those services available, I think that’s going to be really healing.”

The Walkern Katatdjin National Survey is open now for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are LGBTQIA+, between the ages of 14 and 25. To take part in the survey or find out more about the project, head to rainbowknowledge.org

Artwork: Shakyrrah Beck

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The Mental Health Commission is undertaking a Statutory Review of the Mental Health Act (2014) to examine the operations and effectiveness of the Act – what is working well, and where improvements to treatment, care and support could be made.

A discussion paper has been developed to help guide a public comment period, with feedback sought on the Act as a whole, individual parts of the Act, and issues that have arisen since the Act commenced in November 2015.

Individuals with an interest in, or experience under the Act, particularly lived experience, over the past five years are encouraged to participate in the review.

People working under and administrating the Act are also called upon to express their views and perspectives.

The Mental Health Commission is inviting interested parties to apply for grants to facilitate face to face engagement sessions with a diverse array of stakeholders who have a lived experience with treatment under the Act. The grant application period is open now and closed on September 23, 2021.

The public comment period for the Statutory Review is open from August 13, 2021 to January 31, 2022. At the conclusion of the review, a report and recommendations for potential amendments to the Act will be provided to Government.

Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson said the review would allow for the act to be improved.

“Since the Mental Health Act 2014 came into effect in November 2015 our understanding of mental health issues and recovery continues to develop.

“Now is the time to review what is working well, what can be done differently and how we can better support people to live a contributing and meaningful life.

“This review will make a valuable contribution to identifying possible improvements to the Act.” Minister Dawson said.

“To do this, it is vital for the Government to draw on, empower and be guided by the critical knowledge and strength of people with a lived experience, consumers, carers, family members or other support people; as well as those who administer and work within the legislative framework.

“You may feel like yours is but one story, but collectively your experiences tell the story of a community. A community which is entitled to the best practice care and support delivered in a manner which is respectful, maintains dignity and upholds human rights.

“Your experience is your expertise; we need to hear your story.” the minister said launching the statutory review.

Find out more about the review. 

OIP Staff

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