Mental Health

As 2S/LGBTQ+ people, we face unique challenges when it comes to mental health. Many of us have endured rejection from family or friends, or violence and discrimination due to our sexuality or gender identity and expression. We also know how it feels to hide who we really are for our safety.

But, our communities also have a rich history of coming together to support each other—to organize around issues that impact our health and wellbeing with creativity and care. When it comes to improving mental health for 2S/LGBTQ+ communities, we need to draw on knowledge and expertise that comes from lived experience. We need queer, trans, and Two-Spirit people to be actively engaged in research and policy to ensure this work achieves meaningful impact.

Without involving community, efforts to improve 2S/LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing could be limited, misguided, or potentially harmful. Nothing about us, without us. With this spirit in mind, CBRC has developed a number of initiatives focussed on improving 2S/LGBTQ+ people’s mental health:

Projects

2S/LGBTQ+ Mental Health Primers: This set of primers offers insights for service providers and community organizations on 2S/LGBTQ+ experiences in mental health. What makes our mental health different, and how can we better support 2S/LGBTQ+ communities to thrive?
Data Highlights from Our Health 2022:
From Awareness to Action: Strengthening Mental Health Policy for 2S/LGBTQ+ People in Canada
Do You Mind: Do You Mind? is a community mental health leadership program for gender and sexual minority youth interested in being mental health-savvy knowledge holders and advocates. Throughout Do You Mind?, participants gain the health literacy, practical skills, and community networks needed to identify and collectively respond to the systemic and structural challenges impacting their health and that of their peers.