Mind Australia welcomes the Victorian government’s commitment to fund additional assistance to the trans and gender diverse community seeking mental health support.
Mind is one of eight organisations that will help meet the additional demand of LGBTIQ+ support services in the wake of appalling public anti-trans events and commentary, under a $900k funding commitment by the Victorian government.
This funding will help Mind deliver its Aftercare program – a suicide prevention support service specifically for the LGBTIQ+ community.
Aftercare has had a month’s worth of referrals in two days and an increase in anecdotal reports of higher levels of distress and thoughts of suicide from within the LGBTIQ+ community in the aftermath of the highly publicised anti-trans rally on the steps of Victoria’s Parliament House, which brought together anti-trans activists, a politician and a group of Australian Nazis.
This situation demonstrates yet again the very real mental health impacts of the ongoing fringe campaign targeting trans people and the broader LGBTIQ+ community.
Katie Larsen – Mind's Senior Manager Inclusion and Participation- said the additional funding would help expand service delivery of Aftercare to help meet the increase in referrals.
“Mind’s Aftercare service is provided by an LGBTIQA+ team consisting of mental health peer support workers, counsellors and psychologists who understand the issues faced by the community based on their own lived experience of thoughts of suicide,” Katie Larsen said.
“We know that there is a direct and immediate link to psychological distress and suicidality from these public discussions, particularly among young people, so this funding will help us provide extra resources and support to the trans and gender diverse community at this difficult time.
“Mind Australia is proud to deliver the Aftercare program, which provides life affirming supports for LGBTIQA+ people who are having thoughts or intentions of suicide. It’s safe, community-centred care that supports people in their decision to keep living.”