LGBTQIA+ Mental Health & Suicidality Workshops

About these Workshops

IGLYO is organising two online workshops on 11 and 27 July 2023 with our colleagues from The Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN-Europe), and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP)'s LGBTQIA+ Special Interest Group. Each workshop participant will be reimbursed 100 euros for the two-hour session as a compensation for their expertise and insights.

If you want to participate, please read the details below, and fill in our application form. For questions, please reach out to Rú (they/them), our Policy & Research Manager at ru@iglyo.com.

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Introduction

The Global Alliance of Mental Illness Advocacy Networks (GAMIAN-Europe), in association with The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer & Intersex Youth and Student Organisation (IGLYO) and the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) LGBTQIA+ Special Interest Group, is organising two, 2-hour workshops on 11 and 27 July 2023 as part of our #BreakingSuicideStigma campaign.

We are seeking 10-15 participants with lived experience of suicidality who identify as LGBTQIA+ and have a lived experience of severe mental ill health (SMI) to join us in these important discussions. We define an SMI is defined as one or more mental, behavioural, or emotional disorder(s) resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities.

Workshop purposes

These workshops aim to gather in-depth accounts of theunique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals withSMIs. By participating, you will be helping us to:

• Explore the primary mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals with SMIs and understand how identifiable factors in these groups lead to an increased risk of suicidal ideation (such as stigma, discrimination, etc.)
• Explore how external factors, such as the pandemic, climate change and the current cost of living crisis, potentially exacerbate or initiate suicidal ideation and/or a deterioration in the mental health and well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals.
• Identify opportunities to help raise awareness to break the stigma surrounding suicidality with a specific focus on LGBTQIA+ individuals
• Identify potential initiatives or policy changes that policymakers and/or governments can do to reduce suicide and improve the mental health of people living with SMIs and in particular LGBTQIA+ individuals

Participants Requirements

To be eligible to participate in these workshops, you must:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Be LGBTQIA+
• Have lived experience of suicidality (i.e. have had suicidal ideation, made suicide attempts, or both)
• Have a diagnosis or self-reported diagnosis of an SMI

How to apply

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in participating in these workshops, please fill out the following Google Form that will ask you the following information:

• Full Name
• Age & Nationality
• Brief description (a paragraph) of your lived experience
  with suicidality and mental health challenges
• Availability details

Financial Reimbursement

Each workshop participant will be reimbursed 100 euros for the two hour session as compensation for their expertise and insight.

We will contact participants with further information about the workshops, including the exact dates, times, and virtual platform details.

Questions & Contact

For questions, please reach out to Rú (they/them), our Policy & Research Manager at ru@iglyo.com.

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Thank you for considering participating in this important project. We believe that by sharing your experiences and insights, we can work together to understand better and address the unique mental health challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ individuals living with SMIs and ultimately reduce the risk of suicide in our communities.

Sincerely,

The GAMIAN-Europe, IGLYO and IASP LGBTQA+ Special Interest Group Team