From the community, for community leaders and those who wish to support others…
Listening to lived experience is vital to understanding what does and does not work when supporting LGBTI people. We spoke to See Me and See Me Proud volunteers who have experience both of poor mental health and being LGBTI. The following is a summary of what they told us. We would like to give them a huge thank you for providing such valuable insights and recommendations, as well as Anna Cook and See Me for hosting this discussion…
Where you can, try and raise awareness around mental health stigma and discrimination…
- Think about linking with local media around breaking down stigma around mental health.
- Try and raise awareness in your own community group.
Let people tell their own stories…
- Hold space for people to talk about what is going on for them if and when they want to.
- Avoid diagnosing or labelling anyone and allow people to use their own language to describe their situation or mental health issues.
Sharing stories and using conscious language lets people know they are in a safe space…
- If you have lived experience of poor mental health or being LGBTI and feel OK to share, it can help others to do the same. You might think about sharing the ways that you cope with negative feelings and poor mental health.
- You could try using inclusive language that signals you may be safe for an LGBTI person to talk to.
Make sure you are supported too…
- Facilitators and community members should support one another where they can and set clear boundaries. There are limits to what we can do for others and knowing our own is important to keep us safe.
- Training in mental health can help community leaders understand how to chat to people around their mental health and help them to open up, as well as when referring on.
Listening and then signposting is often the best approach…
- Listening is absolutely vital. Use active listening to hear what someone’s actually saying.
- Know that it is OK to say ‘actually that’s beyond my scope and experience’ – you can listen and hold the space for someone to talk, then tie them in with the most appropriate help.
- Make sure your signposting information is kept up to date so that nobody is faced with no answer from a wrong number or defunct support organisation.
- Signposting and meet-up information need to be visible if you lead a group and have a space. You might use group pages, social media or notice boards. You could provide literature around mental health – whether that is leaflets or posters, this can help people feel safe to open up.
Local community groups make all the difference…
- If you run a group, check out bus and train times to make sure the group is held at a time that enables people from other geographical areas to attend.
- We need more groups outside cities and the central belt so that all LGBTI people are able to access a support space.
Co-produce a welcoming space with your community…
- A co-created social contract and no bullying policy can help group members feel safe to talk and be themselves.
- Peer support is really important – particularly around mental health.
