Depression

Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) young people are more likely to suffer from depression and low self-esteem, partly because of society’s attitudes towards their sexuality.

Young LGB people are more likely to suffer from depression, eating disorders, self harm and suicidal feelings. Young people experiencing mental health problems may not feel ready to attend a group, so workers will need to assess their clients and discuss the group with them to see if it will be appropriate.

On the other hand, many LGB young people benefit from attending peer support groups – speaking to other LGB young people who identify with their feelings and can offer shared experiences can be valuable and help them to cope with mental health problems.

LGB young people also respond well to one-to-one sessions if they can be accessed quickly, although it is often difficult for young people to maintain regular appointments.

Offering a listening or befriending service can benefit LGB young people who are waiting for formal counselling to begin, but it must be made clear to clients that as a worker you are not entering into a counselling contract. You should feel able to get support from managers and your team for this work. Ongoing one-to-one support for workers and more formalised counselling if requested can be the key to successful work.

Workers need to be clear about their limitations and recognise that a large group may not be able to assist individuals with deep emotional or psychological problems. Adequate referral systems should be in place and workers should ensure that referral services are appropriate for LGB young people to use in confidence.

This article was last reviewed on: 27/10/11
Date due for next review: 27/10/13