Seeing rainbows through the storms of a health condition: Making space for LGBTQ+ young people to have their identity acknowledged.
Jaymie HuckridgeAsher ArnoldJames McParlandPublished in: Clinical child psychology and psychiatry (2021)
LGBTQ+ youth accessing healthcare settings manage the 'storms' of health conditions (e.g. pain, fatigue, social isolation, etc.) while navigating emerging identity exploration and understandings in settings which may have historically overlooked or disaffirmed these identities. The launch of National Health Service Rainbow Badges across the paediatric division of an inner-city hospital provided a context for staff to begin thinking about their practice, development needs and dilemmas in working with LGBTQ+ youth. Through a programme of activity that included staff training, surveys, focus groups and youth engagement, we gained insight into current practice in supporting LGBTQ+ youth and families. This paper presents our findings, ideas for responding to challenges, and areas for future development, including implications in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Keyphrases
- healthcare
- mental health
- physical activity
- young adults
- sars cov
- primary care
- public health
- quality improvement
- intensive care unit
- health information
- coronavirus disease
- pain management
- emergency department
- long term care
- sleep quality
- spinal cord injury
- depressive symptoms
- respiratory syndrome coronavirus
- study protocol
- cross sectional
- health promotion
- adverse drug
- health insurance
- virtual reality