At Norfolk and Waveney Mind we are committed to being a safe and welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people.

Welcome to our LGBTQ+ page with mental health resources for people who identify as LGBTQ+.


 


" I think when an organisation shows they want to engage with you, and you’re not going to be judged, and won’t have to explain yourself, that helps "

 

Introduction

In 2019/20 we invested in a year-long project to explore the mental health and wellbeing needs of LGBTQ+ people living in Norfolk and Waveney. Our aim was to reach out to the LGBTQ+ community and learn first-hand what we needed to do make our services more accessible to them. Why was this important to us?

The statistics around mental health in the LGBTQ+ community are shocking. More than 40% of LGBT+ people will experience a significant mental health problem, compared to around 25 percent of the whole population. Almost half (48 per cent) of trans people in Britain have attempted suicide at least once. 62% of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic LGBT people have experienced depression in the last year. Rates of depression are highest among LGBT people who’ve experienced a hate crime based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.


There are lots of reasons why these statistics are so high.

We know that many LGBTQ+ people experience bullying, rejection, stigma and discrimination and this can lead to low self-esteem, depression, anxiety and isolation. 

On this page, you can watch, listen, download and read a range of resources that we created with LGBTQ+ people about mental health and wellbeing.

Let’s start with the film we made to support Virtual Norwich Pride 2020.


" I now feel more confident using services like Mind. Previously I felt mental health organisations had very little LGBTQ+ awareness. Knowing Mind had taken the responsibility to inform itself has reduced my anxiety about approaching them for support. "

 

What does LGBTQ+ mean?

We use the acronym LGBTQ+ but you might also see LGBT or LGBT+ or LGBTQI+ in different places. The letters stand for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning and all other sexuality and gender minority identities. I stands for Intersex.

Find out more about LGBTQ+ terminology


" The project has been helpful and beneficial to me as a bi woman married to a man. I feel more accepted and at peace. "

 

Getting Support

In this section you can find out about groups and organisations where you can find friendship, information and support.

We collated a comprehensive list of local, national and international support and social groups for LGBTQ+ people. Our aim was to be diverse and inclusive as possible - every LGBTQ+ person is different and we wanted to ensure everyone could find something to meet their needs.

Download the LGBTQ+ Directory of Support.


Here are the contact details for some of the major LGBTQ+ Helplines and Services if you need to access support quickly 


 

Norfolk LGBT+ Project

Email: info@norfolklgbtproject.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/norfolklgbtproject/

A local organisation providing advice, peer support and information. If you message them on Facebook or via email, they can arrange to speak to you on the phone. 

Opening Doors LGBT+ Get Together

Email: admin@openingdoors.org.uk
Facebook: www.facebook.com/OpeningDoorsLD

Friendly online chat for adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Mind Out Online Support

A national LGBTQ Mental Health Service based in Brighton.

Their online instant message service is confidential, non-judgemental and anonymous.

www.mindout.org.uk/get-support/mindout-online/

Mindline Trans+ Helpline

Tel: 0300 330 5468 
Web:
www.bristolmind.org.uk/help-and-counselling/mindline-transplus/

A national helpline, you can call from anywhere in the UK. Provides a safe place to talk about your feelings confidentially. Volunteers with lived experience of Trans+ or are allies responding to your calls as often as possible.

Switchboard LGBT+ Helpline

Tel: 0300 330 0630 
Web:
www.switchboard.lgbt/help/ 

Provides an information, support and referral service for LGBT people – and anyone considering issues around their sexuality and/or gender identity.

LGBT Foundation Helpline 

Tel: 0345 330 3030
Web:
www.lgbt.foundation/helpline

Helpline Service provides thousands of hours of advice and support to thousands of people every year, both over the phone and via email.

National LGBT Domestic Abuse Helpline

Tel: 0800 999 5428

Part of Galop, the LGBT+ anti-violence charity: 
www.galop.org.uk 


" I now understand the distinct and unique pressures that we face in the LGBTQ+ community. The LGBTQ+ Project helped me realise I’m not alone in suffering from these challenges. "

 

Resources

In this section you can explore the resources we have created to raise awareness and promote good mental health and wellbeing in the LGBTQ+ community.


 

Trans Day of Visibility - Podcast

In our Trans Day of Visibility podcast, you can hear local trans people talk about mental health and what makes a good ally.

Local artist Rebecca Osborne was so moved by the podcast that she drew a beautiful graphic report which she posted across her social media channels. 

View the Podcast Transcript here

20 minutes of Mindfulness with Ruth Taylor

This 20 minute mindfulness practice with Ruth Taylor was recorded as part of a series of wellbeing activities we organised to celebrate Lesbian Visibility Week 2020.

It was in the middle of the COVID-19 lockdown and so the group met online. We hope the recording is useful for you at anytime - just press play and follow Ruth's guidance.

For more information about our forthcoming on-line mindfulness courses go to 
www.norfolkandwaveneymind.org.uk/mindfulness

Breathing Space - 5 minutes of mindfulness by the sea for IDAHOBIT

17th May is IDAHOBIT Day - the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. In 2020 we celebrated the 30th anniversary of homosexuality being declassified as a mental health disorder by the World Health Organisation.

We created this beautiful little movie with Robert Black from the Mindfulness Team to start the day off mindfully.

I Love My Family

We worked with Proud Parents and Guardians Norwich to create an online exhibition with rainbow families to celebrate International Day of Families on 15th May and International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia (IDAHOBIT) on 17th May 2020. Stephanie Harvey from Horning Primary School created a lesson plan around the film for Norwich Pride Schools Week.

Email
education@norwichpride.org.uk to get a copy of the lesson plan.

 

Virtual Rainbow Flower Show

As part of our Festival of Kindness for Mental Health Awareness Week 2020, the LGBTQ+ Project worked with Garden with Pride to invite people to send in photos of their flowers to create the Virtual Rainbow Flower Show. We received hundreds of pics and Facebook exploded into colour.

We created this little film as well as our beautiful floral flag. 

 


" Your support during the lockdown was invaluable. I learnt how to prioritise me, and create a healthy self-care regime. It didn’t stop me having a dip, but I knew how to get out of it. "

 

About our LGBTQ+ Project

Our LGBTQ+ Project ran from June 2019 to July 2020.

Our Project Manager was Michelle Savage. We organised a diverse and vibrant programme of activities linked to key events in the LGBTQ+ calendar. We had a Working Party of LGBTQ+ people that met regularly to oversee the project and offer support and ideas.


 

Here are some of the things we did


- Launched the LGBTQ+ Project with a Rainbow Garden Party for Pride Week

- Organised a Mindfulness Taster session for LGBTQ+ people

- Ran LGBTQ+ awareness training sessions for staff and clients

- Celebrated Bi Visibility Day with a Bi BBQ at the Castle Pub

- Coordinated a #LoveNotHate Vigil for Hate Crime Awareness Week with Norfolk and Suffolk Victim Care and Norfolk Constabulary

- Worked with Get Set to Go on a weekly LGBTQ+ Run-for-Fun group

- Worked with the Norfolk Heritage Centre to organise a World Aids Day event: Space to Talk and Remember

- Supported a group of “lovely lesbians” to organise a range of activities for Lesbian Week of Visibility. This included workshops in mindfulness, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and campaigning and mental health

- celebrated IDAHOBIT on 17th May by signing the Norwich Pride Pledge

- worked with Proud Parents and Guardians to create an online exhibition about rainbow families

- worked with Garden with Pride on a Virtual Rainbow Flower Show

- made a film for the Virtual Norwich Pride march on Saturday 25th July


 


" Being a part of something like Lesbian Visibility Week, feeling included, empowered, making new friendships with other queer people, was incredibly positive for my wellbeing. "

 

Research & Reports

In this section you can find links to some of the major research and reports that have been published about mental health in the LGBTQ+ community.


 

Age UK: Combating Loneliness Among Older LGBT People

Research shows that older LGBT people are especially vulnerable to loneliness as they are more likely to be single, live alone, and have lower levels of contact with relatives.

Mind: Stand Bi Me

Information and guidance on how to support bisexual people.

Mind: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Queer Good Practice Guide

Guidance for service providers on how to develop LGBTQ+ affirmative practices.

Stonewall: LGBT in Britain Health Report

Based on YouGov research with 5,000 LGBT people across England, Scotland and Wales about their life in Britain today. This report looks at mental health and well-being of LGBT people and investigates the specific experiences of LGBT people when accessing healthcare services.

Stonewall: LGBT in Britain Trans Report

This report exposes the profound impact that discrimination, violence and exclusion is having on trans people’s quality of life in Britain today.

Stonewall: One Minority at a Time

Research conducted with the Runnymede Trust into the experiences of black, Asian and minority ethnic lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

The Mental Health of Young LGB&T People

Young LGBTQ+ people have higher rates of poor mental health, self-harm and suicide than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts. LGBTQ+ people under 35 are twice as likely to report a mental health problem. This document is designed to provide the data, information and recommendations required to support improved service provision.

National LGB&T Partnership

This excellent website has lots of research and resources, including information about the annual Lesbian, Bisexual and Trans Women’s Health Week.


" It's great to have a place where I feel comfortable to be myself. "

 

Gallery

Here are some images from our wonderful LGBTQ+ Project.


 



 

Head Office

50 Sale Road
Norwich
Norfolk
NR7 9TP
Tel: 0300 330 5488
 

© 2023 Norfolk and Waveney Mind
We're a part of Mind
We're a registered charity (no. 1118449) and a registered company (no. 05729028) in England

Privacy & Cookies Policy
 
Powered by Empresa.
Designed by DACS Design & Print Consultancy