Time Space Compassion - supporting people experiencing suicidal crisis: stories in practice - volume 1

7.LGBT Health & Wellbeing

Offering support and a space that reflect our communities by being accessible, being alongside and supporting safety

LGBT Health and Wellbeing provides a range of affirmative support services that reflect the diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT+) community across Scotland. This includes offering emotional support through our helpline, individual support, the LGBT counselling service, therapy groups, informal social meet ups, as well as information and resources which reflect the intersectional LGBT+ experience.

"Being able to understand and respond to the diversity, and intersectionality, of people's experience and lives is core to what we do."

7.1 Our challenge

It's widely recognised LGBT+ people are more likely to be impacted by suicide, either personally or through people they know, than other communities. It's key we look at this from the context of people's lives – that we don't conflate being LGBT+ with being suicidal – instead seeing it as the outcome of their experiences of inequality, trauma and discrimination. The LGBT+ community is also diverse in itself. Our stats tells us 28% of our community members are people of colour, 78% are disabled or have a long term health condition and 33% have used a foodbank in the last 2 months. Our aim is to reflect and engage with this diversity, as well as the impact of intersectionality on folks, through our services.

7.2 Our response

Our priorities have been to develop a diverse and highly trained team, and to provide a clear and simple point of access to a range of supportive spaces and approaches. The team is made up of a blend of paid staff, volunteers and peer workers, who reflect the diversity of the communities we support. Although the needs of our community can be thematic, people have very different needs, depending on the identity and situation they are in. Because of our team's diversity, we find keeping up to date with learning on anti-racist, autism aware, trauma informed principles and practice, enables us to feel confident about doing this well. Having all the services within the same organisation makes it simple to link people to support, with full confidence they will be welcomed by someone who understands their perspective.

7.3 Learning from practice

Being accessible – Our helpline is supported by experienced, trained and friendly staff and volunteers. Many of us identity as LGBT+ and we are all experienced in supporting LGBT+ people with a wide range of issues. Most people will have seen our posters in health and public spaces – it's really important that we reach into communities and promote what we do. Being Alongside – our volunteers understand the challenges people often face, including things specific to the communities we support. For example, transphobia can make the idea of going outside for a walk – standard advice given to support mental wellbeing – daunting for trans and non-binary people. Listening without judgement, letting the person set the pace and asking them what works for them helps empower and build trust. Supporting safety - We apply the principles of trauma informed practice. This includes explaining how referrals work, easing the wait by keeping in touch, connecting them to peer support or informal sessions, being clear about what they can expect and how long they can expect to wait to access that support. Online, social and peer sessions provide a starting point for people, to work out what we're about and build confidence in their choice to start counselling or an in-person group.

7.4 Impact

Feedback from community members, volunteers and community group leaders has always been important in shaping and developing our services. Common themes from people are that they feel accepted, that they've received support that helps them understand and make sense of who they are, part of an active community and able to make good quality connections. Find out more about LGBT Health & Wellbeing and contact the team.