MindOUT - the first national LGBTI mental health and suicide prevention project in Australia!

 By working at a national level, the National LGBTI Health Alliance is establishing a knowledge base and sustainable structures that will facilitate LGBTI inclusion in the development and delivery of programs, policies and research.

Funding for both phases of the National LGBTI Health Alliance project has been provided by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) mental health and suicide prevention branch.  The first stage of the project, until 30 June 2011, established the foundation for a subsequent two year project stage.  The larger second stage of the project begins in July 2011, and is informed by Phase One, including consultation with Alliance members and other key stakeholders.

Stage 2 of the project assists the mental health sector as a whole to respond more appropriately to the needs of LGBTI people, resulting in better access, better services, and better mental health in our communities in the future. This complements and supports the targeted services that some Alliance members are already providing.  If you would like further information on the project please email info@lgbtihealth.org.au

Stage One - Scoping and Surveys

Stage One of the MindOUT project was spent scoping the relevant stakeholders for LGBTI Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and surveying the community to find out how aware people are of LGBTI mental health and suicide issues.

The three on-line surveys of the LGBTI community, LGBTI health organisations and Mainstream Mental Health Organisations were open for four weeks in April and May 2011. The surveys were an important first stage for the project. The surveys aimed to give Australians the opportunity to have input to create a healthier community and influence the development of LGBTI appropriate approaches to mental health and suicide prevention.

The surveys were anonymous and aimed to:
•    Gain a better understanding of the level of awareness around mental health and suicide in the LGBTI community
•    To assess what Mental Health and Suicide Prevention services are currently available and
•    Help plan for the future of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention service delivery for the LGBTI community

Stage One Final Report

Stage Two

The Alliance is now actively implementing Stage Two of the MindOUT! project. Our Senior Policy Officer for MindOUT! is Dr Aly Murray, whom commenced September 2011.

Publications

Dr Aly Murray has written an article for Diversit-e about the mental health issues of LGBTI people of CALD background. The article can be read here. Final published version will be made available after publication.

The Australian Psychological Society has published a review on mental health and LGBT parenting. The review suggests that a child’s wellbeing in families parented by lesbian and gay parents are likely to be at least as favourable as those in families of heterosexual parents, despite the challenges of considerable legal discrimination and inequity for LGBT families. The article can be downloaded here and a citation of the article follows.

Short, E, Riggs, D, Perlesz, A, Brown, R, Kane, G 2007 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Parented Families: a literature review prepared for the Australian Psychological Society, APS, Melbourne
 

Submissions we have made to date:

2011 October: Submission to the Review of the National Mental Health Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. This submission can be read here.

Partners

 BeyondBlue "In My Shoes" Research Forum

Help us promote MindOUT

Help promote MindOUT to the LGBTI Community;

1. 'Like' us on facebook and invite your friends to stay up to date with MindOUT by liking the MindOUT page
2. Print and put a poster up in your service, or local LGBTI-friendly establishment. Click here to download a PDF.
3. Add the following banners to your websites, enews and email signatures and link them to lgbtihealth.org.au/mindout