Oral presentation: Queer Futures 2: A blueprint for early intervention mental health support for LGBTQ+ young people

Abstract:
This paper will present key findings which produced an intersectional youth rights ‘what works’ model for the provision of mental health support that is accessible, acceptable, and effective for LGBTQ+ young people (https://queerfutures2.co.uk/what-works/). This approach is rooted in an understanding of LGBTQ+ young people’s mental health as best addressed through explicit recognition of the forms of stigma, marginalization and oppression that are concentrated around the intersections of being young, LGBTQ+, and in distress.

Our analysis suggests an intersectional youth rights approach with 13 principles as underpinning effective mental health service provision as advocated by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and the World Health Organization. This approach should address the multiple forms of marginalisation and stigmatisation that LGBTQ+ youth may experience, address the power imbalances between LGBTQ+ young people and adult service providers, enable informed independent decision-making, and uphold the right to freedom of safe self-expression. Intersectional youth rights-based approaches are not currently prominent in mental health prevention. This must change if we are to tackle LGBTQ+ youth mental health inequality and improve the mental wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people worldwide (McDermott et al., 2024).


References

McDermott, E., Eastham, R., Hughes, E., Johnson, K., Davis, S., Pryjmachuk, S., Mateus, C., McNulty, F., & Jenzen, O. (2024). “What Works” to Support LGBTQ+ Young People’s Mental Health: An Intersectional Youth Rights Approach. International Journal of Social Determinants of Health and Health Services, 54(2), 108–120. https://doi.org/10.1177/27551938241230766

McDermott, E., Hughes, E., & Rawlings, V. (2016). Queer Futures Final Report: Understanding lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) adolescents’ suicide, self-harm and help-seeking behaviour. Lancaster University. https://www.queerfutures.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Queer-Futures-Final-Report.pdf

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