20th ANNUAL CONFERENCE!
"BEYOND COMING OUT"
Discussing Mental Health Issues Among LGBT Youth and Communities
3rd to 10th December 2006
Riga, Latvia
with support of:
Directorate of Youth and Sport - Council of Europe European Youth Fundation Amsterdam Municipality - City Council |
 Presentation |
 Application Form |
 Welcome Pack |
 Report |
 Daily BLOG |
 Pics-Gallery |
Prep team: Darren R. Vella, Lilia Raileanu, Paola Paoletti, Dave Farrington and Simon Maljevac
PRESENTATION
Prejudice, discrimination, and anti-LGBTQ violence may lead members of the LGBTQ community to deal with mental health issues and stress-related disorders, such as depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and substance abuse. Years of negative experiences can also lead to internalized homophobia, which further contributes to stress and mental related disorders.
In many countries young LGBTQ people suffering from mental health conditions would turn to LGBTQ NGO's, but these are often lacking the professional knowledge and skills to provide the needed support. In response to the needs of the wider LGBTQ community as a whole, NGOs often focus their work on relevant issues such as lobbying and advocacy, media etc., usually overlooking important issues such as that of mental health.
It was through our activities and contact with our members that we could see a common thread of concern when issues were raised in relation to the support systems provided within the LGBTQ communities regarding mental health matters. During these meetings, young LGBTQ people discussed the causes and consequences of bullying and isolation and it was of no surprise that this marginalization can lead to a variety of mental health disorders. LGBTQ youth across Europe face different barriers, challenges and discrimination and hiding their identity/ies is something they learn. This, together with the lack of role models to identify with and the denial of significant development stages unique to adolescence and young adulthood impacts on their self-identity and self-esteem. Isolation from peer groups and the significant levels of homophobic bullying is a common experience, whilst accessible and appropriate support for young LGBTQ is affected by the lack of legislation and/or policies, which are inclusive of LGBTQ-related issues.
Moreover young activists who focus their work on relevant issues such as lobbying and advocacy and media often face hostile reactions, rejection from their work, lack of support and other negative pressures that have the potential to accumulate in severe stress, burn-out or other mental health conditions, thus forcing young LGBTQ people to turn elsewhere for help.
However young LGBTQ people in need of mental health care face at least two heavy barriers that they need to overcome when dealing with mental health issues. First is the fact that they need to recognize the problem and identify it, furthermore they face a problem of revealing their identity to potential health care providers. Despite existing research in some countries we can see a common factor across Europe the way in which these issues have been ignored or neglected by health care service providers, the public policy sector and health care planners. Unfortunately many health care providers still perceive homosexuality to be a form of sickness and would in the worst case prescribe wrong or even dangerous treatment. An example of such a case would be that of transgender individuals who would like to undergo surgery: too few providers are experienced with transgender clients who require mental health care before the use of hormones and certainly before undergoing sex reassignment surgery. An experienced mental health care provider can help transgender individuals with their emotions and transition between their sexes. This is only one example from the myriad that exists in the lives of LGBTQ youth. These issues were confirmed by IGLYO and ILGA-Europe's recent publication on Social Exclusion of LGBT Young people.
Background Information on the Study Session
Objectives
- to raise awareness on the specific needs of LGBTQ youth regarding mental health
- to identify sources causing mental health disorder at LGBTQ youth
- to identify approaches and methods on how to provide support young people dealing with mental health condition
- to share best practices, experiences and available information in order to encourage LGBTQ organisations and other institutions to start including mental health support within their programme;
- to identify partners who could play a role in providing mental health care;
- to discuss the political context of mental health regarding LGBTQ youth;
Methodology
- Defining and providing general understanding of the relevant concepts
- Working with case studies based on materials which the participants will gather prior to the study session and present at the meeting itself
- Simulations of different situations in which LGBTQ youth organisations have to deal with mental health conditions (through both small working groups and plenary session/s)
- Lectures by professionals in the field as well as LGBTQ activists themselves
- Work in working groups
- Forming home groups to reflect on the daily topics after each day of the session.
- Multicultural learning will be implemented in the programme through the intercultural evening, games, home groups and presentation of home projects.
Participants' profile
The course is intended for IGLYO members, young LGBTQ activists, and representatives of LGBT (youth) organisations who:
- Are between 18 and 27 years of age;
- Come from EU, SEE, CEE, NIS and CIS countries;
- Are interested in sharing experiences and want to further explore the topic of the conference;
- Are able to work in English;
- Have some level of experience related to the topic of the conference (we are looking for beginners as well as experts);
- Can act as multipliers within their own organisations and/or communities;
- Are committed to setting up follow-up activities after the conference;
- Are able to attend for the full duration of the activity.
^top^