1. Young LGBT People: Health & Care Equality Jan Bridget Gay and Lesbian Youth in Calderdale

2. Credentials 20 years: 1987 LIS; 1997 Action/GALYIC Support: Long distance/local; telephone, email, text, letter, face-to-face; 1-1, groups Research: Library; LIS website; Young Lesbians; Young LGBs Publications: Lists; Packs; Reports; Booklets Training: Homophobia awareness from a multi- oppression perspective; 1,000’s of professionals, around country Campaigning: Mental health; alcohol misuse; LGB young people

3. MAIN ISSUES Young Trans – no/little data Vulnerability Effects Inaccessible Mainstream Services What can SOGIAG do?

4. VULNERABILITY Identifying and coming out at younger ages therefore more vulnerable: –At school – homophobic bullying; invisibility of issues –On streets – homophobic bullying (usually same perpetrators) –At home – parental rejection (homelessness) or on-going emotional abuse (non-acceptance) –Media – religious homophobes –Isolated – no information, friends –High levels of sexual abuse

5. Mental Health GALYIC 2006 N33 % Action 2001 N20 % Ireland 2003 N362 % Scotland 2003 N95 % Reading 2000 N169 % London 2005 N100 % Suicidal Thoughts 7075-545531 Suicide Attempts 512529272215 Self Harm 767026283316

6. NIACE 16-24 MHF 16-19 ONS 11-16 GALYIC 16-25 Up to 20% have mental health issue 6% boys 16.5% girls some form of mental health problem 4% boys 6.1% girls have emotional disorder 83% mental health issue: most occurred at 16 years & below Phobias, anxieties:3.6% boys, 5.2% girls 35% phobias; 48% anxieties Depression 1% boys, 1.9% girls 83% long periods of depression 28% of 1% boys, 1.9% girls tried to harm or kill themselves 61% suicide attempts (79% related to sexuality) 87% self harm

7. Alcohol & Drugs NationalGALYIC Alcohol37% Male 26% Female 35% Male 53% Female Drugs Tobacco 35% Male 24 % Female 26% men 23% women 35% Male 60% Female 48% smoke (64% female)

8. INACCESSIBLE SERVICES Most mainstream services say accessible to all young people, including LGBT, but few are (lack: training, resources, specialist service/group/member of staff) Clear young LGBTs should be accessing mainstream services, especially mental health; alcohol/drugs; social services (families – emotional abuse; sexual abuse); housing; sexual health; youth services Not access services unless know gay-friendly or if do and not out, not getting needs met

9. GALYIC: Accessing Mainstream Services 21% had tried to access other services and found them to be homophobic or lacking in understanding of LGBT issues 65% not out to GPs

10. What can SOGIAG do? 1.POLICIES: Acknowledge LGBT youth highly vulnerable: inclusion in relevant strategies/actions (MKing’s lit review: 12/24 papers related to young LGBs; acknowledged abroad - Queensland); local PCT – no funding unless included in national strategies and action points 2.EXPERTS: Set up national working party of experts & relevant departmental representation (quarterly and virtual on KC) 3.FUNDING: Prioritise government funding programmes, e.g. section 64, opps4vols, etc, LGBT youth groups – specific to develop/build on current provision 4.RESEARCH: Commission mapping current provision; trans youth 5.TRAINING: Relevant professional basic training 6.MAINSTREAM SERVICES: training, policies, working with LGBT youth groups 7.RESOURCES: CSIP – support to develop resources on KC