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The nature and impact of informal mental health support in an LGBTQ context : Exploring peer roles and their challenges
Worrell, Shane Waling, Andrea Anderson, Joel Lyons, Anthony Pepping, Christopher A. Bourne, Adam
Worrell, Shane
Waling, Andrea
Anderson, Joel
Lyons, Anthony
Pepping, Christopher A.
Bourne, Adam
Abstract
Background
Research shows that LGBTQ communities experience high levels of suicidality and mental ill health. They also face significant barriers to accessing adequate mental health treatment in service settings. In response to these factors, it is likely that LGBTQ community members turn to their peers for informal mental health-related support. Such support, however, is largely undefined, the extent of it poorly understood and its impacts on those who perform it underexplored.
Methods
We explored the nature and impact of informal mental health-related support provided by peers in LGBTQ communities in Melbourne, Australia. Drawing on semi-structured in-depth interviews with 25 LGBTQ adults in 2020, we explored how and why peers provided mental health support to friends, partners, housemates and even strangers and the impact this had on them.
Results
We found that participants performed support roles as extensions of their existing relationships. We demonstrate that the support roles of the safe friend, housemate and partner, among others, represent everyday relationships stretched—even to breaking point—to incorporate informal mental health support. Each of these support roles is distinct, but they can all potentially result in similar impacts on those performing them. One of the more significant of these is burnout.
Conclusions
LGBTQ community members face a diverse range of challenges when they support peers with their mental health. Informal peer-support roles are a significant responsibility for those performing them. LGBTQ community members stepping up to support others should be better supported to help manage their roles and the impacts of performing them.
Policy Implications
Findings can contribute to policy that not only addresses high levels of mental ill health in LGBTQ communities, but also seeks to help peers in support roles to prevent them from being negatively impacted.
Keywords
LGBTQ, mental health, suicide prevention, peer support, burnout, boundaries
Date
2022
Type
Journal article
Journal
Sexuality Research and Social Policy
Book
Volume
19
Issue
Page Range
1586-1597
Article Number
ACU Department
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Faculty of Health Sciences
Relation URI
Source URL
Event URL
Open Access Status
License
All rights reserved
File Access
Controlled