The Scottish Government has announced additional funding for a
new project to support LGBTQI+ children and young people’s mental
health.
LGBT Youth Scotland will receive £50,000 to establish a new
Mental Health LGBT Youth Commission.
LGBTQI+ young people continue to experience significant health
inequalities and face real barriers to accessing healthcare.
The Commission will explore barriers and challenges LGBTQI+ young
people face when accessing mental health support and services.
This work, will be taken forward with young people, and their
lived experience will help inform future work, designing targeted
and tangible solutions, formulated by the LGBT Scotland Youth
Scotland Mental Health Ambassadors.
This project has been developed based on the feedback and
recommendations of children, young people and families and will
provide important additional mental health support to the LGBTQI+
young people in Scotland.
Mental Wellbeing Minister said:
“I am happy to announce this additional support for LGBT Youth
Scotland on top of the substantial investment we are already
making in improving the mental health and wellbeing support
provided to children, young people and their families.
“We have listened to children, young people and families, and are
taking direct action in the areas where they have told us more
support is needed.
“Making sure all children and young people can get the mental
health and wellbeing support they need, at the right time, is
important to this government as our continued record investment
in this area goes to show.”
LGBT Youth Scotland, Chief Executive, Dr Mhairi Crawford said:
“There is a tremendous amount of work still needed to ensure that
the voices of LGBTQ+ young people in Scotland are heard. However,
this funding represents a step in the right direction.
“We recognise the current pressures on the NHS, but even during
times of crisis, we cannot deprioritise the needs of marginalised
groups.
“LGBT Youth Scotland’s Mental Health Youth Commission will see
young people share their lived experience to drive change and
inform solutions.
“We thank the Scottish Government for supporting this project
which will amplify the voices of LGBTQ+ young people, have a
significant impact on services and help LGBTQ+ young people
across Scotland thrive.”
Background
Scottish Government have provided LGBT Youth Scotland with
£50,000 from the 2022/23 mental health budget to establish a new
Mental Health LGBT Youth Commission.
This work is informed by previous research by LGBT Youth Scotland
which shows LGBTQI+ young people are more likely to face mental
health and wellbeing concerns than the population average
- Health Report 2023 digital
(lgbtyouth.org.uk)
