New LGBTQ+ Mental Health Campaign Launched
A new campaign, Mind Your Head, has been launched to promote better mental health and wellbeing for LGBTQ+ communities in Calderdale and beyond.
This is a partnership between The Brunswick Centre and Happy Valley Pride and funded by Calderdale Council and West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership.
LGBTQ+ people are more likely to have mental health issues yet less likely to seek help.
- 1 in 8 LGBT people aged 18-24 (13%) said they've attempted to take their own life in the last year.
- Half of LGBT people (52 per cent) said they've experienced depression in the last year.
- One in seven LGBT people (14 per cent) have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination because they're LGBT.
From LGBT in Britain – Health Report - Stonewall – 2018
The new campaign aims to raise awareness of the issues around LGBTQ+ mental health and provide access to local, regional and national resources. The campaign launches this week with an online hub with hints and tips for wellbeing and links to organisations that can provide advice and support. There are also a number of real-life stories that demonstrate the benefit of seeking help and much more.
As part of the campaign and as part of the Happy Valley Pride Weekender (10-12 September 2021) there will be an online talk by Matthew Todd, former editor of Attitude magazine and author of the best-selling book on gay mental health, Straight Jacket. He will explain how the experience of growing up in our society is deeply traumatic for many LGBTQ+ people, the impact this has what we can do about it. This is on Sunday 12 September at 7pm - free online here and will be followed by a Q&A.
The campaign will also be part of the Info Fair taking place during the Happy Valley Pride Pink Pride Picnic on Saturday 11 September (11am – 7pm, Calder Holme Park, Hebden Bridge), alongside many other community organisations and mental health services.
Future online events as part of the campaign include a look at anxiety and how to better understand and deal with it (30 September at 7.30pm) and a guided hypnotherapy session (14 October at 8pm). All these events are online and for free with more to be added.
Malcolm Struthers, Mind Your Head Project Manager and Happy Valley Pride Trustee said, "There has been a greater focus on mental health in the past 18 months than ever before. Through the Mind Your Head campaign we will specifically highlight some of the important issues around LGBTQ+ mental health and provide useful hints and tip, alongside real-life stories, online events and important links to important resources. It is important to know that help is available when we need it."
John McKernaghan, The Brunswick Centre Chief Officer said, "The Brunswick Centre is delighted to be partnering with Happy Valley Pride for this vital campaign. Not only are we raising awareness of a very important topic, we are also providing links to a range of fantastic organisations that are ready and able to support those in need."