How to support young people

Be affirming and respectful when supporting an LGBTIQ+ young person in a clinical setting.

Clinicians say they can be fearful of making a mistake when speaking about a client’s identity or pronouns, or lack the confidence to have conversations around sexuality and gender.

Watch a short video on affirming practice and allyship(3:12 min)

The Writing Themselves in 4 report suggests the risk of not talking to LGBTQ+ young people about sexuality and gender is much greater than the risk of trying imperfectly.¹ For young people with intersex variations, there is no data on the impact of discrimination in mental health settings.

Even if a young person is not part of LGBTIQ+ populations, building a culture of allyship and respect is good for everyone, and works to dismantle the structures that oppress LGBTIQ+ people.

Many young people who come to CAMHS or other mental health services for support:

• may not immediately identify as LGBTQ+ because they feel unsafe and ashamed to come out
• may not be conscious yet of their own gender or sexual identity, so it’s important not to make assumptions as a clinician
• may not yet be aware of any intersex variations, or not feel safe to disclose them.

Providing affirming care

Speaking to young people about sex and gender normalises their experiences as part of life and creates a space for clients and clinicians to explore LGBTQ+ identity and experience without stigma. When working with a young person who has disclosed that they have an intersex variation, be prepared to have open conversations about their body and experiences, if the young person wants to.

To effectively support young LGBTIQ+ clients as a mental health clinician, you should:

• understand and address the impact of emotional labour, minority stress and moral panic on their experiences with healthcare
• understand and follow CAMHS best practice and clinical approaches to support
• build knowledge and expertise in LGBTIQ+ affirming practice, including for LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal people
• be aware of, and address, common experiences, including alcohol and other drug use; domestic, family and sexual violence; eating disorders; and neurodiversity.

References

1. La Trobe University. Writing Themselves In 4: NSW report. Melbourne, Vic: La Trobe University; 2021.