Charity leads bid to improve mental health of LGBTQ young people

Equality and diversity charity Metro published the survey of 7,000 16- to 25-year-olds about their experiences of sexuality discrimination. As a result, it has vowed to develop recommendations for youth groups and other organisations to do more to support the mental health of LGBTQ young people.

The charity will work with youth organisations, youth service commissioners and young people themselves to develop a key set of evidence-based recommendations around mental health, schools, transgender young people and safety and risk.

Funded by the Big Lottery Fund, the Youth Chances research found that 52 per cent of respondents had self-harmed, while 44 per cent had considered suicide as a result of discrimination in education, employment or the community.

Study participants also reported experiences of isolation, bullying and abuse, particularly during their time at school.

Dr Greg Ussher, acting chief executive of Metro, is also calling on schools, colleges, youth clubs, employers and health services to work together more closely in a bid to improve the mental wellbeing of LGBTQ young people.

He said: “The link between the high rates of discrimination and disadvantage that LGBTQ young people report in our schools, at home and in their communities is stark – but it is not inevitable.

“We are announcing a collaborative process to develop recommendations to improve the mental health and wellbeing of young LGBTQ people, and collaborations in other areas, including sexual health, experiences in schools, identity, safety and risk.

“We hope that as many providers of services, commissioners, experts in the field and young people themselves will join us.

“We know that LGBTQ young people are not getting the support they need – we must work together to make sure they do.”