Lancs LGBT

In 2023, Lancashire LGBT was commissioned by NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria to help tackle mental health inequalities experienced by LGBTQ+ people in Lancashire and South Cumbria.

This is in line with the Long -Term Plan for mental health, where NHS Lancashire and South Cumbria are required to transform Community Mental Health services for adults and older adults.

In two years, Lancashire LGBT delivered Free CPD accredited LGBTQ+ Awareness training workshops to 365 mental health professionals

Between 2023-25, Lancashire LGBT delivered a series of free LGBTQ+ Awareness training workshops across Lancashire, and online for those who support LGBTQ+ people through their work. This training was CPD accredited, and informed by LGBTQ+ people who had accessed mental health services who we consulted with.

The focus of these workshops was to increase awareness to the experience of LGBTQ+ people accessing mental health services, with the aim of improving access, removing barriers and improve patient experience. These training sessions were be delivered by Lancashire LGBT, and co-delivered by LGBTQ+ people who have lived experience of accessing mental health services. These free training sessions had both online and in-person dates.

In the sessions, delegates:

• Learnt how to reduce the barriers LGBTQ+ people experience accessing mental health support
• Gained an understanding from people with lived experience, of how being LGBTQ+ can impact mental health
• Learnt how reduce or eliminate heteronormative assumptions, practices and systems in mental health support

Here is some feedback we have received for the project:

“Really insightful and informative day. Lancashire LGBT are raising awareness of individual care needs and support”

“Fab day hosted by Lancashire LGBT around barriers LGBTQ+ people face when accessing mental health services. Important to think about the steps we can take to help the LGBTQ+ community in Lancashire”