What’s the project?
Sexual minority and gender minority adolescents are more likely to experience depression and anxiety than their heterosexual or cisgender peers. Researcher Ishrat Pabla and her team from UCL are looking at the mental health inequality between LGBTQ+ and heterosexual/cisgender adolescents in schools.
Through previous research with an advisory group of young LGBTQ+ people from the McPin Foundation on Universal School Interventions, the researchers found that universal school interventions aimed at whole school populations, inclusive school environments that promote diversity and acceptance and early interventions for preventing poorer mental health outcomes for young LGBTQ+ people would lead to a reduced the likelihood of poorer mental health outcomes for young LGBTQ+ people. To find out more about the findings and outcomes of this previous study, click here.
After some review work of with a young person co-researcher in the previous study, the research team would like to investigate the aspects of the school environment that can be changed, that universal school interventions should target. The research team would like to investigate whether LGBTQ+ mental health varies between schools, or why this variation happens. This would inform the development of whole school interventions to prevent or reduce poorer mental health outcomes. The team would like to achieve this using a mixed method, first conducting a qualitative study and then using the findings of that study to develop the hypotheses to design a quantitative study. The team will then use three large UK datasets that explored the experiences of LGBTQ+ adolescents in schools and aim to better understand factors contributing to this mental health inequality.
Find out more
The researchers are looking to form a YPAG of 6 young LGBTQ+ people, who are currently in or recently left school to get involved in approximately two meetings over the period of a year with the first meeting happening on the 20th January, 5-7 pm. You will be involved in:
- Discussing approaches to recruitment and interview design for the qualitative study (e.g. one-to-one versus focus groups) as well as key interview questions
- Discussing ethical aspects of recruitment, interview approaches, data analysis and dissemination
- Discussing preliminary qualitative research findings and drawing conclusions
- Co-producing recruitment materials, i.e., consent form/recruitment posters
- Co-producing qualitative research papers as co-authors, including sensitivity and accessibility checks on language.
- Co-producing dissemination materials for the qualitative study, for example infographics, press releases and writing a blog of the findings for schools
- Be a young LGBTQ+ person aged between 13-25
- Have some experience of receiving whole school interventions targeted at LGBTQ+ mental health
- Attend two online meetings throughout the research project
- Complete tasks during the meetings as well as in between meetings, such as commenting on the research and plans, advising on your experiences and perspectives as a young person, and co-producing outputs with researchers
- Must be based in the UK
- Have access to stable internet connection
Mental health issues affect everyone in the LGBTQ+ community. Research, however does not always reflect the varying intersections of this community. We particularly encourage those who identify as: transgender men and women, non-binary folk, ethnic minority, neurodivergent, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds to apply for this involvement opportunity.
You will be offered a payment of £50 for attending the full 2 hours meetings + a £5 digital data allowance.
For co-production work, this will be happening outside of meetings, you will be offered £25 per hour for up to three hours of additional work.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please email [email protected] with brief answers to the following questions:
- What is your name?
- What is your date of birth?
- Could you tell us about your experience of receiving whole school interventions targeted at improving LGBTQ+ mental health, if any?
- Why are you interested in this specific opportunity?
- Sometimes after talking about topics like mental health, people feel they need a little extra support or someone to chat to. What support do you currently have in place (e.g. supportive friends, family, health professionals or mental health charities)? Is there anything that [insert name of organisation here] could do to support you or make your involvement experience better?
- How did you hear about this opportunity?
IMPORTANT:
Before joining the group, we will offer you a call with a member of McPin staff. Nothing scary! This is purely so you can meet us, ask us any questions, and for us to ask you about any accessibility needs, or any support you need from us. In this call we will ask for a form of age verification, a document with your photo, name and date of birth. This could be a passport, Student ID card, voter ID, access card, drivers’ licence, proof of age card etc. If you have any worries about not having an appropriate document, please reach out and one of our team can support!
You are welcome to send your responses in audio or video format if preferred! If you need any help completing your expression of interest, you can get in touch with [email protected].
Monday 13th January 2025, 12pm
Please note that the McPin Foundation regularly promotes opportunities on behalf of other institutions; we are not responsible for the continuation or contents of further correspondence with any project partners where we are not listed as the project main point of contact.
