5 th Annual Forum Wednesday 28 th April 2010 Royal Hospital Kilmainham

1. 5th Annual Forum Wednesday 28th April 2010 Royal Hospital Kilmainham ‘Promoting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Stigma’

2. Promoting the positive mental health of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Young People and their parents… David Carroll National Network Manager BeLonG To Youth Services

3. LGBT People Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender

4. BeLonG To Youth Services • Provides supports and services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender young people 14-23 yrs • Dublin based LGBT youth groups • National Network of LGBT youth groups • Training and Resources • Awareness Week in Youth Sector and Schools

5. BeLonG To Ethos.... Critical Social Education model • Programmes designed to address the specific challenges and issues identified by LGBT young people • Youth Leadership training – young people are trained to facilitate groups, offer peer support etc. • Service development and delivery designed in consultation with LGBT youth • Ultimately, young people become agents/engineers of positive social change......

6. Key Issues for LGBT Young People • Invisibility • Isolation • Homophobia • Presumption of Heterosexuality • Stereotypes • Homophobic language • Use of That’s so Gay! • Homophobic Bullying • Fear of Rejection

7. Supporting LGBT Lives Most common age people knew they were LGBT = 12 Most common age they first told anyone = 17 58% reported homophobic bullying in their school 25% were physically threatened by their school peers 20% skipped school because they felt threatened or afraid of getting hurt because they were LGBT 5% left school early because of homophobic bullying

8. Supporting LGBT Lives “Those who experienced homophobic bullying and/or lack of acceptance by significant others in their lives as a consequence of their LGBT identification were particularly susceptible to depression, self-harm or suicidality.”

9. Supporting LGBT Lives Recommendations..... LGBT youth services require further development nationally Importance of addressing mental health issues among LGBT youth Resources for parents of LGBT youth should be developed to assist them in support their LGBT children.

10. Proposal: A two-sided booklet, targeting both LGBT youth and their parents offering; Tips on coming out safely for young people Timing Where to tell Time to digest Talk to others Tips for Parents What does it mean to be LGBT? I think my child is gay How can I support my LGBT child?

11. Working in partnership... LOOK – Loving Our Out Kids (www.lovingouroutkids.org) Parents from local LGBT youth steering committees Health Promotion Dept. HSE North West BeLonG To Youth Service Youth Work Team LGBT Youth

14. LGBT Friendly Environments • Welcome LGBT Young People • Do not assume heterosexuality • LGBT positive Posters, Leaflets, Information • Do not tolerate Homophobic Language and Homophobic Bullying • Policies – include LGBT young people and homophobic bullying • Programmes – inclusive of LGBT issues – not just in sexual health programmes • Referral to BeLonG To LGBT Youth Groups and other supports • Participate in Stand Up Awareness Week

15. If a young person comes out to you • Positive Affirmation is essential. • If a young person comes out to you they need: • Someone to Listen • Someone to be Positive • Thank them for trusting you and having the courage to tell you. • You must have been doing something right for them to come and tell you – build on that. • Focus on them and what they need. Don’t make it about you (or anyone else). • Don’t dismiss it as unimportant. Acknowledge that it is a big deal for them to tell you. • Acknowledge that lots of people are LGBT.

16. If a young person comes out to you • Don’t tell them they are too young to know. Most LGBT know their sexual orientation / gender identity at an early age (most common age = 12). • Don’t make it all about sex – don’t interrogate the young person about whether they are sexually active. • Be led by the young person and what they need. They may just want to tell you and have a positive reaction or they may want further support and information. Remember that the young person may not have thought through the next steps after telling you. • Take the time, don’t rush. You may need to meet with the young person a few times. Encourage them to come back and talk to you again.

17. If a young person comes out to you • Encourage the young person to take their time, to reflect on what they want to do and on if and how they want to come out to other people. Support them as requested. • Acknowledge the limitations to the support you can offer and refer them to additional support if appropriate. • Assure them of confidentiality. (In exceptional circumstances it may not be possible to guarantee confidentiality if you have grounds to believe the young person is at risk.) • Have information and resources available to give to them, for example on LGBT youth groups / parents’ support etc. • Remember, each case is different and will require a different response. Use your professional discernment and skills to respond appropriately.

18. Stand Up LGBT Awareness Week

19. Support for Parents LOOK Loving Our Out Kids www.lovingouroutkids.org

20. Ph: 01 670 6223 E: info@belongto.org W: www.belongto.org W: www.belongto.org/pro/

21. 5th Annual Forum Wednesday 28th April 2010 Royal Hospital Kilmainham ‘Promoting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Stigma’

22. National Traveller Suicide Awareness Project Presentation by Petra Daly to NOSP Forum Day 28th April 2010

23. Why do you need to consider Travellers when it comes to Mental Health and Suicide Awareness ? • Travellers like many marginalised groups are often viewed with fear and mistrust and don’t often have a strong voice. Most of our information about Travellers comes from the media and is often negative. • We tend to have a fear about the unknown and when we don’t understand something like Travellers culture we can often put labels on people which can make it harder for people to seek help. • 70% of Traveller suicides among young men were first attempts • The rate of Suicide is up to three times higher for The Traveller population • In the last week alone two Traveller men have taken their own lives

24. WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT TRAVELLERS? • There are lower levels of literacy within the Traveller community up to 70% of Travellers have low literacy levels • Travellers are an ethnic minority who are not recognised by the Irish government • Their culture is generally not valued • They have a higher level of unemployment than the general population up to 78% • There is a strong oral tradition within the community • Historically Travellers were nomadic • Historically Horses were/are a big part of Traveller culture • They tend to get married younger • Traveller men die 10 years earlier than settled men • Traveller women die 12 years earlier than settled women

25. Why we got involved • A constant complaint which the project hears is the words, language used is too complicated and not simply explained within some materials and information which is out there. • Providing information which is has meaning and values cultural differences is important in the materials • The use of visual methods such as posters DVD etc automatically makes it easier for Travellers to get the messages which they otherwise might not engage with • When images which Travellers can relate to and are easily identifiable as Traveller, they are more likely to engage with the message within them

26. What the National Traveller Suicide Awareness Project did • As a result of a pilot Youth worker training we developed a training manual for Youth workers working with Travellers which the co branding project has helped us to print. This also includes a game • We ran a National design a poster competition for Young Travellers with the title letsomeone know… • Some of the entries have been made into posters which will be distributed to Traveller projects around the country • With Pavee Point we are developing a Suicide Awareness poster which will also be available for national distribution All of the images being used have been approved by Travellers

29. Outcomes to date • Engaging young Travellers in the design of the posters through the competition has started young Travellers talking about mental health • Even though the manual is being finalised groups are already planning their training days so they can implement the pack. • Through the discussions which are taking place the ITM youth event which brings 100 young Travellers from around the country together have decided their next youth event will have Mental health as their focus • It is expected that having these materials available to groups will enable more conversations to start about Mental Health.

31. 5th Annual Forum Wednesday 28th April 2010 Royal Hospital Kilmainham ‘Promoting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Stigma’

32. World Community Mental Health Movement in Ireland

33. What is GROW? “GROW is a World Community Mental Health Organisation that helps people who have suffered, or are suffering, mental health problems.” Weekly Support Meetings GROW is anonymous, confidential & open to all.

34. Who uses GROW? People who have suffered, or are suffering frommental health problems All ages ….. from all walks of life

35. Promoting Leadership Chair a Meeting Workshops Personal Testimony GROUP MEMBER Group Organiser 12th Step Work Leadership Course

36. GROW/ NOSP Co-branding Empower young adults who have already experienced mental health issues to share their experiences and wisdom with young people nationwide. PART 1 – Book of personal stories of recovery PART 2 – Presentation pack to accompany book

37. Letsomeoneknow.ie website

38. GROW Booklet

39. GROW Booklet

40. GROW/ NOSP Co-branding Empower young adults who have already experienced mental health issues to share their experiences and wisdom with young people nationwide. PART 1 – Book of personal stories of recovery PART 2 – Presentation pack to accompany book

41. Member Quotes “GROW helps me break isolation. I get great understanding from others who know the terrain.” “For me the best things are the friendship and confidentiality” “It gives me a structured approach to recovery”

42. “No Introductions are necessary. Just come along.” GROW INFO: 1890 474 474 www.grow.ie

43. 5th Annual Forum Wednesday 28th April 2010 Royal Hospital Kilmainham ‘Promoting Positive Mental Health and Reducing Stigma’

44. NOSP Co-Branding Projects Fiona Flynn, Youth Development Officer Ruth NíEidhin, Communications Officer 28th April 2010

45. NOSP Co-Branding Projects Be Body Positive Campaign Text Service YouthConnect Online Support Group

46. Be Body Positive

47. Be Body Positive Youth Panel – Aged 13-20 “Because I feel it is important for teenagers today to be body positive as there is a lot of pressure on them today such as the media, comparing themselves to friends etc. Awareness needs to be raised about body confidence to give teenagers confidence about their bodies”.

48. Be Body Positive Volunteers: ‘Be Body Positive’ Education Programme for schools and youth groups Developed based on feedback from young people in focus groups To start in October 2010

49. Be Body Positive

50. Bodywhys Text Service • Keywords sent to ‘shortcode’ number • Automated response • Immediacy • Ease of access • New service users • Potential for service expansion