Gscene News Archive

LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) mental health project PACE has launched its national review of mental health support for LGBT people. Commissioned by the National Mental Health Development Unit at the Department of Health, the research will examine what is currently being done to promote better mental health for LGBT people in England.

Researchers will be contacting mental health services across the country and visiting mental health websites to find out how prepared they are to meet the needs of local LGBT populations. The project will be running throughout August and September.

The research project grew out of the fact that in 2008 the National Suicide Prevention Strategy was amended to include a specific goal to promote mental health amongst lesbian, gay and bisexual people. Subsequent efforts are being made to include trans people within this priority. The change followed the publication of a government report revealing the evidence of significantly increased risk of suicide among LGBT people. The report “Mental disorders, suicide and deliberate self-harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual people” highlighted that better awareness of mental health needs of sexual minorities should become a standard part of training for health and social care professionals. It also recommended that sexual orientation should be included in routine data collection.

Explaining why he thinks this review is necessary, Tim Franks, Chief Executive of PACE said:
“At the time we were delighted with the recommendations of the report. I personally believe that the rates of attempted suicide in our community, particularly among young people, are of great concern. Over one year on from changing the national strategy we are keen to see what, if anything, has been done to implement these proposals. We want to identify those parts of the NHS and voluntary sector that have taken a lead in addressing this issue and can be used as examples of good practice for others. We also want to hear from LGBT people who have personal experience of struggling with suicidal thoughts about their views of what has helped them and what could be done to help further. To those people I would say: ‘Please help us, to help others by telling us about your experiences’.”

Keith Foster, the Suicide prevention Strategy Implementation Lead for England said:
“Following the publication of the systematic review in February 2008 we now include LGB people as a specific group who have special needs under Goal Two of the Suicide Prevention Strategy. We now need to support those organisations working with LGB and trans people, including health and social care agencies, on actions that are required to enable us to reduce the risk of suicide in this group of people. This review will provide us with practical recommendations in policy and service provision leading to an improvement in the mental health and well-being of LGBT individuals”.

An online survey for LGBT people who have experienced suicidal thoughts is accessible from the PACE website at: www.pacehealth.org.uk/research

To find out more about PACE and ways of supporting the project email: tim.franks@pacehealth.org.uk.