Early mental health intervention and supported self-care for LGBTQ+ young people in the UK: a mixed-methods study
Authors: McDermott Elizabeth , Eastham Rachael , Hughes Elizabeth , Pattison Emily , Johnson Katherine , Davis Stephanie , Pryjmachuk Steven , Mateus Ceu , Jenzen Olu , McNulty Felix 
Published: February 2024

Background

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people have a higher risk of poor mental health in comparison to cisgendered heterosexual young people, and they underutilise mental health services and support. In addition, there is a paucity of research conducted in United Kingdom examining mental health early intervention provision for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people.

Objectives

To produce a model of what works for early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people and increase understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people’s access to, navigation of, and engagement with mental health support.

Method

This was a multi-methods theory-led case study evaluation with three distinct stages: (1) a meta-narrative review of existing literature to develop a theoretical framework to explain effective mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people; (2) an online and offline service mapping exercise to locate current mental health early intervention support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people in the United Kingdom in order to produce a service typology; and (3) a theory-led case study evaluation of 12 case study sites selected from the service typology produced in stage 2, to establish the components of appropriate quality, early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people.

Results

Stage 1 produced an interdisciplinary theoretical framework indicating that early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus youth must prioritise addressing normative environments that marginalise youth, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus identities and mental health problems.

Stage 2 mapping found 111 services, the majority in urban settings in England. There was an absence of mainstream National Health Service support that specifically addressed the needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people. The majority of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus youth mental health support was provided by voluntary/community organisations.

Stage 3 case study evaluation found that an intersectional, youth-rights approach is the most appropriate way to deliver early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people. Youth rights should underpin mental health support to address the multiple marginalisation, isolation and stigmatisation that lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people may experience and to enable them to make informed independent decisions about their own bodies and lives, and for the right to freedom of safe self-expression to be upheld. The model that we have produced contains 13 principles that are necessary to the provision of mental health support, and to improve access to, engagement with, and navigation of mental health services.

Conclusions

In the United Kingdom, a rights-based approach to mental health service provision is not prominent. In addition, at the time of writing, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people are facing active legislative and policy attacks on their human rights. This study provides the first large-scale theory-led evaluation of early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people with common mental health problems. The resulting intersectional, youth-rights approach provides evidence on ways of improving lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people’s mental health.

Further research on the implementation of an intersectional, youth-rights approach to early intervention mental health support for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, plus young people with mental health problems is required.

Study registration

This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42019135722.

Funding

This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: 17/09/04) and is published in full in Health and Social Care Delivery Research; Vol. 12, No. 47. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.