a public health approach to better LGB mental health

What is it about?

Jo Semlyen a Psychologist and Jim McManus a Public Health specialist and psychologist discuss how taking the lens and mindset of a public health approach to LGB mental health can bring benefits to efforts to promote and protect the mental health of LGB people across their whole lives. Concepts like trauma and resilience, love, good mental health, freedom from hate and internalised and externalised homophobia when see through a public health lens begin to open up actions which can be taken from policy level to individual level. We hope this is a good example of how psychology can be done through a public health lens, and how public health as a discipline can enhance psychology and public policy. This is also an example of working across disciplines which seeks to be not just a comparison of disciplines but work in a way which takes insight from both : a transdisciplinary approach.

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Why is it important?

This is important because public health principles applied to this area, in tune with psychology, can help improve and protect the health of LGB populations. Concepts like understanding populations, understanding determinants of good and poor mental health and understanding the systemic influences on LGB people can add to the efforts to improve and protect mental health. There is a weight of evidence which can be brought to bear using a public health mindset, including looking at the relevance and impact of policy approaches. It's also important because we delineate the need for the same work to be done for all LGBTQ+ populations

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