Trauma informed care to Promote Mental Health Equity for 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
Addressing the mental health counselling needs of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) 2SLGBTQI+ community members who are experiencing mental health issues.
WHO
African, Caribbean and Black individuals who also identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
WHAT
Objectives
The goal is to strengthen a trauma-informed model of care that is responsive to the needs and lived experience of ACB populations.
HOW
The program provides a combination of activities including:
- One-to-one supports
- Brief solution-focused supports and referrals
- Group programming to address mental health and problematic substance use
- Peer-based supports
WHERE
Settings
- Online
- Community
Implementation sites
- Toronto (Greater Toronto Area)
WHY
- COVID-related isolation had a severe impact on HIV+ folks
- There was insufficient or scarce programming for HIV+ ACB queer female identifying and non-binary community members
In the words of the project team members
“We’re trying to reach out to more queer black women and non-binary people. We’re trying to reach out to more HIV positive people. We just want to bring everybody in the space together with a community where all of their intersectionalities don’t matter because everyone in the space would be the same.”
Key protective factors
- Cultural connectedness and identity
- Self-determination
- Identity/belonging
- Social and emotional skills
- Access to health and support services
Key approaches
- Community
- Trauma-informed
