Rainbow people are more likely than their peers to experience mental health problems - including suicidal behaviour, depression and anxiety, eating disorders, substance misuse and social isolation. These are not caused by rainbow identities, but are connected with experiences of social exclusion and discrimination.
It can also be hard for rainbow people to find appropriate mental health and addictions services. Many professionals haven’t been supported to learn about rainbow competence, and organisations may not have inclusive environments and policies that ensure the services being provided are safe, effective and culturally appropriate.
Making sure that rainbow people can access good mental health support is a systemic challenge. Often rainbow populations aren’t recognised in policies, and there are gaps in data that would help services understand the experiences of their rainbow clients. There are very few employed roles in the mental health system with responsibility for rainbow mental health. Service improvements are often driven by individuals – managers, clinicians or policy makers – who want to make a difference.
We’ve shared some resources below for people working at different levels to support rainbow people with mental health.
For decision makers and policy writers
If you’re developing policies or plans to support population mental health, or to provide mental health service support, these resources will help you understand the issues and needs for rainbow communities:
Rainbow communities, mental health and addictions: a collective submission summarising some of the evidence, issues and needs, from rainbow community advocates to the 2018 Government Inquiry into Mental Health and Addiction – Oranga Tāngata, Oranga Whānau.
He Ara Oranga and other Mental Health Inquiry reports (particularly the stocktake report and the submissions summary) reflect some of the feedback that the Inquiry received from rainbow communities, as well as research evidence.
Te Ngākau Kahukura submissions describe some of the current gaps and needs in national mental health responses:
on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission’s He Ara Āwhina framework (April 2022)
on the Ministry of Health’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Long-Term Pathway (March 2021)
on the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Psychosocial and Mental Wellbeing Recovery Plan - Kia Kaha, Kia Māia, Kia Ora Aotearoa (June 2020)
Mental health promotion and prevention services for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex populations in New Zealand: a needs assessment report published in 2012 by Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui.
Key local research into rainbow mental health prevalence includes:
the Youth 2000 series and Youth19 (including data on sexual and gender minority high school students)
Identify (a survey of rainbow young people aged between 14 and 26)
Counting Ourselves (focused on trans and non-binary people aged 14 to 83)
Manalagi (which surveyed Pacific Rainbow LGBTQIA+ MVPFAFF+ people in Aotearoa)
the New Zealand Mental Health Monitor (which surveys New Zealanders aged 15 and older, and identifies a subset of rainbow participants: those who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, takatāpui, or gender diverse)
the Household Economic Survey (which includes data on daily feelings of depression and anxiety for LGBT+ people, compared with the whole population)
the Christchurch Health and Development Study (1, 2) (a longitudinal birth cohort study), and
Lavender Islands (focused on wellbeing and positive mental health of LGB people).
Research on rainbow people’s experiences of accessing mental health and addictions support includes the Rainbow Mental Health Support Experiences Study, Gloria Fraser’s PhD research on rainbow mental health support, Out Loud Aotearoa (a community submission to the 2018 Mental Health and Addictions Inquiry), and Let’s Talk about sex….(sexuality and gender) (a study by Auckland District Health Board into improving mental health and addiction services for rainbow communities).
Going Upstream: a framework for promoting the mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people from the Australian National LGBTI Health Alliance.
Discrimination, compounded discusses the ways rainbow people who experience mental distress are subject to multiple forms of discrimination.
You can also get in touch with us for advice.
For mental health professionals, support workers and others working with rainbow people
Supporting Aotearoa’s Rainbow People: A Practical Guide for Mental Health Professionals is a guide for anyone who provides mental health support in Aotearoa, including (but not limited to) counsellors, psychologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists, tohunga (Māori healers), social workers, mental health nurses, and GPs.
Making Visible: Improving services for sexual minority people in alcohol and other drug addiction prevention and treatment: a 2010 guide for AOD service providers in New Zealand, published by Matua Raḵi.
Working therapeutically with LGBTI clients: a practice wisdom resource: reflections from therapists including Aotearoa’s Mani Bruce Mitchell, published by Australia’s LGBTI Health Alliance.
Asking the right questions 2: Talking with clients about sexual orientation and gender identity in mental health, counselling and addiction services: a Canadian manual to support therapists and counsellors to create a welcoming environment for rainbow clients when accessing mental health or addiction services.
MindOUT webinar recordings: on topics related to LGBTI mental health and suicide prevention, mostly from Australian presenters.
If you’re thinking about how to improve your mental health service’s responsiveness to rainbow people, our evaluate tool is a great place to start.
For rainbow people and their whānau
If you’re looking for help for yourself or someone you’re connected with, these are places where you can find direct support:
For immediate support, free call or text 1737 any time to talk with a trained counsellor.
OutLine provides rainbow-affirming specialist counselling (you can self-refer online) as well as a free nationwide peer support service (free call 0800 OUTLINE (0800 688 5463) or access online chat any evening between 6pm and 9pm to talk to a trained volunteer).
The Mental Health Foundation has a lot of information on their website, and can help you find mental health services and supports in your area.