Trauma informed care to Promote Mental Health Equity for ACB LGBTQIA+ Community

The aim of this project is to address the counselling mental health needs of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) 2SLGBTQI+ community members who are experiencing mental health issues. Community members will be supported through a range of program activities, including one-to-one supports, brief solution focused supports and referrals; as well as group programming to address mental health and Harm reduction, which will be complemented by peer-based supports. This project builds on existing evidenced-based trauma models to deliver trauma-informed services in an environment where service users do not experience further (re)traumatization, and where they can make decisions about their mental health and HIV-related needs at a pace that feels safe to them. The goal is to strengthen a trauma-informed model of care that is responsive to the needs and lived experience of ACB populations that can be scaled up.

Lead organization: Black Coalition for Aids Prevention

Addressing the mental health counselling needs of African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) 2SLGBTQI+ community members who are experiencing mental health issues.

WHO
WHAT
HOW
WHERE
WHY

African, Caribbean and Black individuals who also identify as part of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community

Objectives

The goal is to strengthen a trauma-informed model of care that is responsive to the needs and lived experience of ACB populations.

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

Settings

Online
Community

Implementation sites

Toronto (Greater Toronto Area)

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.”