LGBTIQ Youth affirmative mental health approaches

<< Background >>Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other self-identified queer (LGBTIQ) youth have higher rates of mental health issues than people in the general population. This could be due to neglect, lack of support, discrimination, trauma, abuse, etc that could potentially lead to poor mental health, suicide, substance abuse, anti-social behaviour, at risk sexual encounters, depression, stress, anxiety etc. To tackle some of these issues and to create a support network, community of practices and peer support networks we wanted to explore body-oriented approaches in working with LGBTIQ youth mental health that could potentially lead to regaining strength, power, self-esteem and self-acceptance within this cohort. „LGBTIQ Youth affirmative mental health approaches” is a project which strengthens capacities of partner organisations in the field, creates a network of Eu community of practices, upskills youth workers and mental health professionals from the field and exchanges good practices through the development of innovative project results based on the concept of Body oriented mental health as a tool for working with LGBTIQ youth mental health in Europe.<< Objectives >>Main objective of the project was to increase the quality of mental health in the young LGBTIQ population in the EU. Specific objective 1: To develop innovative model of affirmative mental health approach to LGBTIQ youth population based on the partners experiences in affirmative mental health approaches in working with LGBTIQ youth such as: sports, embodiment, dance, trauma sensitive yoga, movement, theatre and culture. Specific objective 2: To strengthen the capacities of the organisations in the LGBTIQ mental health field.<< Implementation >>To ensure we are reaching our objectives we implemented following activities: - Transnational project meetings (3 online and 4 in person),- Study visits and testing of the project results,- Production of 3 Intellectual outputs:* Guidebook for community of practices (including research in the field),* Educational videos on different LGBTIQ youth mental health approaches and* LTTA Training Outlines to train the trainers who work with LGBTIQ youth. - Multiplier eventsStudy visits and testing of the project results activities took part in partner countries with aim of applying and testing the new competencies gained through the research and development of the different mental health approaches while spreading new knowledge and skills among other youth workers and mental health practitioners on European levels but also strengthening capacities of the organisations included in this project. Production of 3 intellectual outputs aimed at sustainability of the project while ensuring youth workers, young people, diversified mental health professionals from the field and also educators in Europe could benefit from it and implement those approaches in their support work with LGBTIQ youth. << Results >>This project produced 3 key outputs. 1. Guidebook “Queer Youth Work: Resource on LGBTIQ Youth Affirmative Mental Health Approaches” was developed specifically for the youth workers and mental health practitioners working with LGBTIQ youth. This Guidebook equips them with skills on how to tackle their bias and make their approaches more affirmative, inclusive and introduce them to more diverse approaches. The focus is placed on skills development of the youth workers and mental health practitioners working with LGBTIQ youth in understanding, empowerment and discovering personal resources. 2. LGBTIQ youth affirmative mental health educational videos are short but powerful series of visual materials available for free usage of all interested in this field. Each video breaks down specific topic for the youth workers, mental health professionals, educators, but also parents and youngsters themselves. 3. LTTA Training Outlines provide very practical in detail examples of implementation of different techniques for working with LGBTIQ youth aimed for youth workers and mental health practitioners.