What’s the project?
Sexual minority and gender minority (SGM) young people have worse mental health than their heterosexual and cisgender peers. This is due to stigma, discrimination, and prejudice, which affect many areas of life for SGM/LGBTQ+ young people. For example, in schools, SGM students report high levels of bullying and discrimination.
Through previous work with McPin, Ishrat Pabla, a PhD student at University College London (UCL) and her research team worked with an advisory group of SGM young people that told them that more inclusive environments could help reduce depression and anxiety. Educational policies that promote inclusion could therefore improve mental health of SGM young people.
Beyond the educational environment, SGM youth also face broader social inequalities, such as poverty and homelessness. Social policies are actions taken by the government aimed at addressing these social needs and inequalities. These policies are very often relied upon by sexual and gender minority youth. However, little is known about social policies that may affect the mental health of SGM youth.
In this research, the team are trying to find out which social policies can support SGM youth. This information will help the team apply for future funding to look more closely at how these policies impact mental health. This will help them understand the current policy landscape, how policies affect mental health, and the best ways to involve young people, community organisations, and policymakers in future research and action on LGBTQ+ mental health.
Find out more
We are looking for six LGBTQ+ young people to take part in an in person, half-day stakeholder involvement meeting on the 9th March 2026 at the McPin office.
During the session, you will be invited to:
- Share your views on social policies that are relevant to the lives of LGBTQ+ young people
- Discuss how these policies may affect the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ young people
- Discuss how research on social policies and LGBTQ+ mental health should be designed and carried out
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- Be a young LGBTQ+ person aged between 16-29
- Have ID available for us to verify your age (details below)
- Be able to attend one in-person, half-day meeting
- Must be based in the UK and willing to travel to London
- Ideally have some experience of, or interest in, social policies
- Parental/guardian consent will be requited of those under 18 to join this workshop
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. All information will be kept strictly confidential within the McPin Foundation and the University College London.
You will be offered a £100 payment for attending the full meeting. Lunch will be provided, and reasonable travel costs will be reimbursed.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please fill out the expression of interest form on this link: Tackling mental health inequalities for LGBTQ+ youth workshop: Expression of interest – Fill in form
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 Davino: [email protected].
Wednesday 11th February, 5pm
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.
