One of the most urgent and critical mental health issues in LGBTQ communities is the rate and intensity of suicidal distress for trans and non-binary people. 21 years ago we started offering mental health advocacy support to LGBTQ people. One of our first clients was Sarah. She came to us in crisis, extremely distressed. Sarah … Read more
What course are you studying at the moment and why did you choose this discipline? I’m studying an MA in Gestalt Therapy Theory Studies. I chose this is because prior to training as a psychotherapist I qualified as an executive coach. The programme director was a Gestalt therapist so it was largely down to her … Read more
Telephone befriending: Many of us feel lonely or isolated. Sometimes we can find ourselves without someone to spend time with or share news with or talk to about our lives. Sometimes we don’t feel connected to our communities or to people like us, with our LGBTQ identity. Our telephone befriending project offers opportunities for people … Read more
Most LGBTQ people I know are pretty good at reading signals. If you’ve grown up experiencing a level of discrimination or prejudice growing up, it becomes second-nature to risk-assess your environment before revealing something about yourself that could put you in danger. Or at very least, make things awkward. Some same-sex couples will get used … Read more
With the gradual relaxation of lockdown we wanted to update you about how MindOut will continue to help you in the coming months. We know that it continues to be a difficult time of uncertainty and restrictions and many people within LGBTQ communities are unable to access critical support and NHS services to support their … Read more
Since lockdown, we have been trialling new ways to help our community to connect with each other and have introduced weekly online peer support groups. If you’re feeling lonely, anxious or low, then we can help. Our peer support sessions help people who have had similar life experiences a chance to come together and offer … Read more
Service user, Joe, talks to us about how MindOut saved his life. “At this precise moment in time with lockdown, without MindOut I would probably be dead.” When did you first hear about MindOut? I’ve used MindOut’s services for a long time, since around 2010. Which MindOut services have you used? Peer support groups including … Read more
The cancellation of Pride events this year means a huge loss of income for MindOut LGBTQ Mental Health Service. This comes at a time when our service users need us the most. During lockdown we have seen increased experiences of anxiety, depression, suicidal distress and self injury and we need your help to keep our … Read more
If you are struggling with the pressures of life in a Covid/Lockdown world and would like to talk this through with other people feeling the same, then please do get in touch. We will be running: Lockdown/Covid themed workshops Loneliness and isolation Managing fear and anxiety Self-care and staying safe Lockdown/Covid peer support groups The … Read more
What I love about Brighton Pride is it caters for everyone. When I was younger I used to be found downing jäger bombs in the dance tents, misbehaving in Legends and eating pie and chips on St James’ Street at 4am. Last year I did a yoga class in the fitness tent, listened to some … Read more