Scotland’s first network is launched to improve mental health of LGBTQIA+ community
Scotland’s first mental health network to improve the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community has been launched by researchers at Glasgow Caledonian and Edinburgh universities.
Glasgow Caledonian’s Professor of Health and Society Jamie Frankis and University of Edinburgh Senior Research Fellow Dr Hazel Marzetti received funding from Scotland’s National Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) after describing the network as an "exceptional project".
Research has shown that LGBTQIA+ people have worse mental health and wellbeing than our heterosexual and cisgender (non-trans) peers.
The researchers launched the network because one of the key barriers to research, development and policy change in Scotland was that there was no way of bringing the LGBTQIA+ community, healthcare professionals, third sector organisations, academics and businesses together.
Professor Frankis and Dr Marzetti have organised two network lunches in Glasgow and Edinburgh this month and are inviting anyone with an interest in improving the lives of the LGBTQIA+ community to come along and help develop the network.
Click on the links to sign up to the networking lunches - Glasgow 30th May 12.30-2.30pm, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road Campus and Edinburgh 31st May 12.30-2.30pm, University of Edinburgh, Main Library, 30 George Square.
Professor Frankis, from the School of Health and Life Sciences Department of Nursing and Community Health, is co-lead of the Research Centre for Health (ReaCH) Sexual Health and Blood Borne Viruses Research Group.
Professor Frankis said: “Whilst we know that in Scotland, LGBTQIA+ people have worse mental health and wellbeing than our heterosexual and cisgender (non-trans) peers, we know less about why this is or how to improve it.
“So, we need to bring together researchers, practitioners, policymakers, LGTBTQIA+ communities and anyone who has an interest in working together to make positive changes in Scotland.”
Each event will include focused research briefings with Dr Hazel Marzetti on LGBTQ+ suicide and suicide prevention, and Professor Jamie Frankis on anxiety, depression and loneliness, and they will use this work to drive change through workshops.
Dr Marzetti, from the University of Edinburgh’s School of Health in Social Science, said: "Working across our multiple communities is critical as we face distinct yet interconnected challenges to our health and wellbeing. We believe these are best solved by taking a community-based approach, combining the strengths of multiple disciplines, which this network will enable."
The two-year project, entitled ‘Developing an Interdisciplinary LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Network for Scotland’ builds on years of mental health research carried out by Professor Frankis over the years. He is leading the project, with Dr Marzetti as co-lead.
Professor Frankis added: "In Scotland, most LGBTQIA+ mental health research has focused on gay and bisexual men (GBM). Our longitudinal research suggests 40% of GBM in Scotland have been diagnosed with anxiety and/or depression, three times higher than our heterosexual, cisgender peers.
"While Dr Marzetti’s emerging research has identified suicide as a major public health challenge among LGBTQIA+ youth, remaining mental health studies with LGBTQIA+ folk have included few Scotland-based participants.
"While we know that other LGBTQIA+ folk have even poorer mental health outcomes and greater experiences of suicide than GBM, very limited evidence addresses the Scottish context. Critically, this has not always translated into local service provision or policy.
"In Scotland, key service providers are keen to work with LGBTQIA+ populations, and LGBTQIA+ facing services, who are well placed for collaboration, but little LGBTQIA+ tailored mental health provision currently exists. Our network aims to remedy this situation.”
Find out more about Scotland's LGBTQIA+ Mental Health Network on the Queer Minds website.