On Thursday 31 June and Friday 1 July, the MU attended the TUC LGBT+ Conference.
A motion raised by MU member Jade Stanger, stating that access to specialist LGBT+ mental health services are needed more than ever, was moved by MU Equalities Officer Rose Delcour-min.
In her speech, Jade stated:
“Mental health has always played a massive role in my life. I have grown up around family members with their struggles and I have had my own. My mental health struggles are still on-going but today I am able to manage them.
“Unfortunately, this wasn’t because of support or help from a professional but because of my own methods of dealing with it.”
She added:
“I sought out professional help a few years back when I was at an all time low, with no visible way out. However, my experience was not good at all. I did not feel safe or protected or guided.
“I was already scared about truly opening up about my experiences but had hoped it would provide me with some clarity and safety. I experienced the opposite”.
Access to specialist LGBT+ mental health services are needed more than ever
Jade had hoped speaking with a trained practitioner would not only aid her in finding a diagnosis for her mental health concerns, but would also give her a space to share her feelings openly without judgment.
Although this was not the case and she has since found her own path towards healing, Jade’s speech explained that fear of homophobia means that some people will never seek the help they desperately need and that with the additional pressure of the pandemic, mental health issues are at an all time high. She stated that access to specialist LGBT+ mental health services are needed more than ever.