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The Mental Well Being Project, set up by Yorkshire MESMAC in Bradford, is aiming to address the mental and emotional needs of the lgb communities in the Bradford and Airedale PCT catchment area.
‘Being gay, lesbian or bisexual for millions of people worldwide brings huge fulfilment and pleasure,’ they say. ‘For many, recognising their sexuality and coming to terms with it, marks the point in their lives when everything seems to come together and make sense.
However for a significant number of lgb people, the experiences on this journey can leave significant emotional and mental marks. We all grow up in a world largely moulded by the dominant sexuality - from an early age we are expected to be heterosexual and we are expected by family, friends and the wider community to conform to that way of life and act accordingly. Finding out that this norm does not describe our feelings and desires, can prompt reactions both from within ourselves and externally that challenge our personal mental health and well being. In addition to coping with the standard assaults on our mental well-being that come with developing as human beings, lgb people have to do this in surroundings that refuse, to greater or lesser extent, to recognise the normality of our experiences and desires.
‘Sexuality is at the heart of who we are as human beings - if that is challenged then who we are is challenged. Global research has identified that lgb communities are more vulnerable to some types of emotional and mental health issues. If you grow up in an environment in which the world around you sees you as being “odd”, “sick” or “different”, then there is a fair chance that you will end up viewing yourself, to some degree, in this way and this in turn will impact on your self-esteem and value - self-esteem being a core element in good mental health.’
‘If we struggle with these issues and seek help,’ they say, ‘the response of professionals there to assist us make sense of our emotions is often in sensitive or ill- informed - either dismissing the importance of our sexuality or the opposite - attributing all our emotional issues to our sexuality.’
The aims of The Mental Well Being Project are: to offer one-to-one support work with lgb people with issues around their mental well-being, taking referrals from both professionals and individual lgb people; to establish support groups offering assistance to individuals; to offer advocacy and support in relation to lgb people’s relationship with health professionals; to implement training for mental health staff to increase their awareness of the issues faced by lgb people; and to raise awareness of mental health issues in the Bradford and Airedale lgb communities.’
For more information, contact Clive Spendlove on 07913264967 or c.spendlove@mesmac.co.uk, or James Moore on 07806756757 or j.moore@mesmac.co.uk
Phone: Clive Spendlove on 07913264967 or James Moore on 07806756757
Email: c.spendlove@mesmac.co.uk
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