5 April 2022
Mind Australia’s new webinar series Respect in action: exploring intersectional inclusion in mental health will discuss how mental health service providers can better support clients with diverse needs and experiences.
The webinar series is designed to foster conversations and provide an opportunity to learn more about the mental health needs of people from all backgrounds, ages and abilities.
The three-part series launches on 17 May with LGBTIQA+ peer leadership: lived experience approaches to mental health – looking at the ways in which LGBTIQA+ peer workers inform lived experience led specialist care. The LGBTIQA+ peer leadership webinar launches on International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) and will feature special guests:
- Maya Kjellstrand, Peer Practitioner, Aftercare
- Manu Kailom, Peer Support and Community Development Officer, Many Coloured Sky
- Alex Cuffe, Peer Practitioner, Aftercare
Register for LGBTIQA+ peer leadership: lived experience approaches to mental health here:
- Date: 17 May 2022
- Time: 11:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Speakers to be confirmed
- Register here
Details on the second and third webinars are to be confirmed. Sign up to Mind View to get the latest information when it is announced.
About Respect in action: exploring intersectional inclusion in mental health
Mind is working to amplify and honour the voices of people with diverse lived and learned experiences to uphold the principles of human rights, equity and inclusion.
We want to be a service and workplace that reflects the communities in which we work, and we want to contribute to a mental health sector that is better responsive to and accountable for culturally safe governance, leadership and service delivery.
Our dedicated Inclusion and Participation team champions our Diversity and Inclusion Framework, setting us up to amplify the voices of all people with lived experience of mental ill-health in services, research and advocacy.
Mind Senior Manager Inclusion, Participation and Strategic Reform Katie Larsen said the new webinar series would continue that important work, and contribute to improved access and outcomes for people and communities who experience marginalisation.
“It’s important for organisations like Mind to develop specific strategies to address these needs,” Ms Larsen said.
“We’re working to improve outcomes for marginalised groups by developing systems, processes and projects that support diversity and inclusion across an organisation’s service delivery, workforce and governance.
“It’s important work; there is an established body of research revealing a disproportionate prevalence of mental ill-health in LGBTIQA+ communities compared to the mainstream non-LGBTIQA+ communities.
“This research suggests that LGBTIQA+ people are at increased risk of a range of mental health problems, including depression, anxiety disorders, self-harm and suicide, and that these experiences are interrelated with heterosexist discrimination and abuse.”
