An Exploration of LGBTQA+ Young People's Coping Strategies When Navigating Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors.

LGBTQA+ young people experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors at a much greater rate than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This study explored firsthand accounts of the coping strategies employed by LGBTQA+ young people when experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors. LGBTQA+ young people (N = 27; ages 14-25) in Australia with a history of suicidal thoughts and/or attempts participated in semi-structured interviews. Using reflexive thematic analysis, four major themes were developed: (1) It's about the journey, not the destination, (2) Connecting with others, (3) When I knew better, I coped better, and (4) Doing the best I can with what I have. LGBTQA+ young people reported utilizing a range of coping strategies, however these were limited by a lack of knowledge around mental health, gender and sexuality diversity, and available resources. Experiences of discrimination within support settings and limited access to clinicians with knowledge of sexuality and gender diversity were cited as significant barriers. Interventions to increase mental health literacy in LGBTQA+ young people and improvements to clinician knowledge of sexuality and gender diversity are needed to enhance LGBTQA+ young people's access to effective coping strategies when experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

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

OBJECTIVE: 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. METHODS: We conducted a Delphi expert consensus study. A systematic literature search and interviews with key informants informed an initial 270-item questionnaire. Two expert panels completed the questionnaire, delivered over two rounds: (1) Australian professionals with expertise in LGBTQA+ mental health/suicide prevention and (2) Australian LGBTQA+ young people aged 14-25 with lived experience of suicidal thoughts and/or behaviours. Items endorsed as 'essential' or 'important' by >80% of both expert panels were included in the guidelines. RESULTS: A total of 115 people participated in the Delphi process; n = 52 professionals completed Round 1, and n = 42 completed Round 2; n = 63 LGBTQA+ young people completed Round 1, and n = 50 completed Round 2. A total of 290 items were included in the guidelines and grouped into: (1) general principles for creating an affirming and inclusive environment for LGBTQA+ young people; (2) assessing suicide risk and working with suicidal LGBTQA+ young people; (3) considerations for specific LGBTQA+ populations; and (4) advocating for LGBTQA+ young people. CONCLUSION: These guidelines are the first of their kind in Australia. They provide practical support to service providers regardless of prior training in LGBTQ+ identities or mental health, with the aim of reducing suicidal thoughts and behaviours, and preventing suicide, in LGBTQA+ young people.

Affirming educational and workplace settings are associated with positive mental health and happiness outcomes for LGBTQA + youth in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Affirming socio-cultural settings are essential for protecting the mental health and wellbeing of lesbian, bisexual or pansexual, trans and gender diverse, asexual and queer (LGBTQA +) youth. However, limited research has explored the role of affirming educational and workplace settings, as reported by LGBTQA + youth themselves, with respect to their mental health and wellbeing. Moreover, existing research maintains a focus on mitigating poor mental health outcomes, with little attention to positive wellbeing outcomes among LGBTQA + youth. METHODS: Using data from the largest national survey of LGBTQA + youth aged 14-21 in Australia, multivariable regression analyses were conducted to explore associations between affirming educational and workplace settings and psychological distress and subjective wellbeing among 4,331 cisgender and 1,537 trans and gender diverse youth. Additionally, a series of multivariable regression analyses were conducted to explore individual sociodemographic traits that are associated with reporting affirming educational or workplace settings. RESULTS: Both cisgender and trans or gender diverse participants who reported that their education institution or workplace were affirming of their LGBTQA + identity reported lower levels of psychological distress as well as higher levels of subjective happiness. Additionally, affirming environments were not experienced equally across all subsections of LGBTQA + youth, with reporting of an affirming educational or workplace setting differing most noticeably across gender, type of educational institution and residential location. CONCLUSION: The findings demonstrate that affirming educational and workplace settings can result not only in better mental health, but also greater levels of subjective happiness among LGBTQA + youth. The outcomes illustrate the importance of ensuring all LGBTQA + youth are afforded the opportunity to thrive in environments where they feel validated and confident to express their identities. The findings further highlight a need to target education institutions and workplaces to ensure the implementation of policies and practices that promote not just inclusion of LGBTQA + youth but affirmation of their identities.

Queer feminist assemblages against far-right anti- "Anti-Discrimination Law" in South Korea.

Anti-feminist, anti-Queer politics, and Christianity have long been allies in South Korea fervently against any progressive movement involving women and sexual minorities. Since the 2010s, the societal context has shifted to include the long recession and neoliberal structural reforms after the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis. As a result, far-right religious groups never cease attempts to divide society based on gender, sexuality, and the Anti-Discrimination Law" To prevent "sexual orientation" from being protected under the Anti-Discrimination Act, these groups accused sexual minorities and members of advocacy groups of being pro-North Korea and pro-communist. The anti- LGBTQ groups furthered their discourse in the name of "protecting national security;" simultaneously, sexual minorities and family members of the shipwreck victims, migrant workers, and even disabled persons were treated as "non-nationals" and "pro-North Korea." Against this backdrop, Queer feminist assemblage provides creative ways to articulate the controversies, with the alliance and lived experiences of minorities.

The Relationship between Minority Stress and Depressive Symptoms in the LGBTQA Population from Poland.

The cross-sectional study examines minority stress and depression symptoms regarding various sexual and gender minority (SGM) identities in lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and asexual (LGBTQA) individuals from Poland. The online survey was conducted among 509 people. Participants aged between 18 and 47 (M = 22.39, SD = 4.78). Gender identity included 262 cisgender women, 74 cisgender men, 31 transgender women, 53 transgender men, and 89 nonbinary individuals. Sexual identity comprises 197 bisexual, 150 homosexual, 78 pansexual, 33 asexual, 21 undefined, 14 heterosexual, 9 demisexuals, 6 queer, and 1 sapiosexual individual. The Daily Heterosexist Experiences Questionnaire (DHEQ) and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R) were used to measure minority stress and depression symptoms, respectively. Among LGBTQA participants, 99.80% declared minority stress at least once during the past year. In particular, vicarious trauma was experienced in 99.80% of participants, vigilance in 95.87%, harassment and discrimination in 80.35%, stress related to the family of origin in 69.16%, and to gender expression in 68.76% of respondents. Depression symptoms were found in 62.50% of respondents. Significantly higher rates of depression and minority stress were presented in dual than single SGM individuals. Binomial logistic regression showed that such sources of minority stress as vigilance, harassment, and gender expression could predict depression symptoms. Therefore, prevention and intervention programs should be designed for the LGBTQA population focusing on coping with these sources of minority stress, especially among those of dual SGM identity.

Illicit drug use among lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual, trans and gender diverse, queer and asexual young people in Australia: Intersections and associated outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: High rates of illicit drug use have been reported among gay and bisexual young men, however limited research has examined patterns of drug use among the broader population of lesbian, pansexual, trans and gender diverse, asexual and queer (LGBTQA) young people. We examined factors associated with illicit drug use in the past 6 months and lifetime experiences of self-reported concern with drug use among LGBTQA youth in Australia. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 6418 LGBTQA participants aged 14-21 years, 5914 of whom provided information relating to their use of illicit drugs. Multivariable logistic regressions examined demographic factors and life experiences associated with drug use in the past 6 months and lifetime experiences of self-reported concern with drug use. RESULTS: Overall, 26.4% of participants aged 14-17 and 41.9% aged 18-21 reported any drug use in the past 6 months, of whom 23.5% had ever been concerned about their drug use. Cannabis use was most commonly reported (28.3%), followed by ecstasy/MDMA (7.1%), antidepressants (5.6%) and LSD (3.5%). Higher odds of drug use were reported among cisgender men and those who had experienced homelessness or sexual harassment in the past 12 months. Higher odds of self-identified concern about drug use were observed among participants reporting challenging life experiences. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: Rates of illicit drug use among LGBTQA young people in this study were considerably higher than those observed in general population youth studies in Australia and were further elevated among those who had experienced LGBTQA-related prejudice or harassment, or homelessness.

"We in This Fight Together ": HIV Treatment and Prevention Among Couples of HIV-Discordant Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men.

HIV-positive Black and Latino men who have sex with men (MSM) have substantial challenges accessing and engaging in HIV care. Findings presented here are an analysis of 14 HIV-discordant couples (N = 28) from Atlanta, GA; Baltimore, MD; Chicago, IL; Los Angeles, CA; and Washington, DC. One-hour in-depth interviews were conducted. Interviews were analyzed using a qualitative content analysis approach. Most couples reported relationship fears associated with delayed disclosure, HIV care engagement instigated by the HIV-uninfected partner, and varying knowledge and concern about the impacts of HIV infection and risk reduction. Findings suggest an opportunity to jointly educate and treat MSM of color in HIV-discordant relationships to improve engagement in ART and PrEP care and adherence.

AFFIRM Online: Utilising an Affirmative Cognitive-Behavioural Digital Intervention to Improve Mental Health, Access, and Engagement among LGBTQA+ Youth and Young Adults.

Digital mental health interventions may enable access to care for LGBTQA+ youth and young adults that face significant threats to their wellbeing. This study describes the preliminary efficacy of AFFIRM Online, an eight-session manualised affirmative cognitive behavioural group intervention delivered synchronously. Participants (Mage = 21.17; SD = 4.52) had a range of sexual (e.g., queer, lesbian, pansexual) and gender (e.g., non-binary, transgender, cisgender woman) identities. Compared to a waitlist control (n = 50), AFFIRM Online participants (n = 46) experienced significantly reduced depression (b = -5.30, p = 0.005, d = 0.60) and improved appraisal of stress as a challenge (b = 0.51, p = 0.005, d = 0.60) and having the resources to meet those challenges (b = 0.27, p = 0.059, d = 0.39) as well active coping (b = 0.36, p = 0.012, d = 0.54), emotional support (b = 0.38, p = 0.017, d = 0.51), instrumental support (b = 0.58, p < 0.001, d = 0.77), positive framing (b = 0.34, p = 0.046, d = 0.42), and planning (b = 0.41, p = 0.024, d = 0.49). Participants reported high acceptability. This study highlights the potential of digital interventions to impact LGBTQA+ youth mental health and explores the feasibility of digital mental health to support access and engagement of youth with a range of identities and needs (e.g., pandemic, lack of transportation, rural locations). Findings have implications for the design and delivery of digital interventions for marginalised youth and young adults.

Queer in STEM: Workplace Experiences Reported in a National Survey of LGBTQA Individuals in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Careers.

A survey of individuals working in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans*, queer, or asexual (LGTBQA) was administered online in 2013. Participants completed a 58-item questionnaire to report their professional areas of expertise, levels of education, geographic location, and gender and sexual identities and rated their work and social communities as welcoming or hostile to queer identities. An analysis of 1,427 responses to this survey provided the first broad portrait of this population, and it revealed trends related to workplace practices that can inform efforts to improve queer inclusivity in STEM workplaces.