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Research

Minority stressors, traumatic events, and associations with mental health and school climate among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia: Findings from a nationally representative cohort study

Population-level, nationally representative data on the prevalence of minority stressors and traumatic events, mental ill-health effects, and the preventative utility of school climate, among gender and sexuality diverse young people in Australia, is significantly lacking.

Research

Considerations for collecting and analyzing longitudinal data in observational cohort studies of transgender, non-binary, and gender diverse people

The health and well-being of transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people is receiving increasing attention from epidemiologists and public health researchers, including those utilizing longitudinal observational cohort studies.

Research

Group mindful self-compassion training to improve mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ young adults: Rationale and protocol for a randomised controlled trial

Young adults who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, intersex, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQIA+) are more likely to experience mental health difficulties and are at significantly elevated risk of substance abuse, self-harm and suicide, relative to their heterosexual, endosex and cisgender peers. There is a need for effective mental health interventions for LGBTQIA+ young adults. Mindful Self-Compassion training is a promising approach; among LGBTQIA+ individuals, self-compassion accounts for more variation in mental health outcomes than bullying, victimization, and adverse childhood experiences combined. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ individuals with high self-compassion report more positive identity and happiness, less self-stigma, and lower suicidality than those with low self-compassion.

News & Events

Survey explores mental health needs of trans and gender diverse young people

We have launched a national survey to investigate how we can better support young people who don't identify as the gender they were assigned at birth.

Research

Gender Diversity

Not all children or teenagers identify with the gender they were assigned at birth. As a result, some may choose to change their name, their clothes or their body. With considerably higher rates of depression, anxiety, self-harm and attempted suicide, the need for specialist mental health services has been recognised.

Research

Perspectives of LGBTQA+ young people on suicide prevention services in Australia

LGBTQA + people are less likely to access mental health care despite an increased risk of adverse mental health outcomes including suicidal thoughts and behaviours. The present study aimed to explore Australian LGBTQA + young people's perceptions of key factors associated with access to suicide prevention services.

Research

Parental Experiences of Supporting the Mental Health of Their LGBTQA+ Child

Young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQA+) are at greater risk of adverse mental health outcomes and suicide, with additional barriers to accessing safe and affirming physical and mental health services in comparison to the general population.

Research

Who suffered most? Parental stress and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany

This study examines gender and socioeconomic inequalities in parental psychological wellbeing (parenting stress and psychological distress) during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany. Background: The dramatic shift of childcare and schooling responsibility from formal institutions to private households during the pandemic has put families under enormous stress and raised concerns about caregivers’ health and wellbeing.

Research

Development of best practice guidelines for clinical and community service providers to prevent suicide in LGBTQA+ young people: A Delphi expert consensus study

The aim of this study was to develop best practice guidelines for preventing suicide and reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours in LGBTQA+ young people (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, asexual, and those of other diverse sexualities and genders) within clinical and community service settings in Australia.

Research

Prevalence of Eating Disorder Symptoms in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents Presenting for Gender-Affirming Care

To describe the prevalence of eating disorder symptoms among adolescents seeking gender-affirming care.