The organiser of an upcoming panel on lgbti mental health says it won’t be all about ‘gloomy statistics'. "Speakers will also talk about innovative practice with rainbow people,” says Kaye McLaren. “They will also share their personal stories of hope and recovery to inspire audience members.” Green MP Jan Logie, who will be a guest speaker a the 1 November event at Waikato University, says discrimination and marginalisation can create mental health problems. “We all need to acknowledge this and work towards a society without discrimination while building our own sense of community and individual resilience." Counsellor Mani B. Mitchell will talk about mental health issues for intersex people. Kaupapa Maori counsellor Alexander Stevens and traditional healer David Kukutai-Jones will discuss cultural approaches. Sexual Health Advocate Siaosi Mulipola and Pasifika LGBTI advocate Phylesha Brown-Acton will focus on issues for the Pacific rainbow community. The panel will also include Joey Macdonald from Affinity Services and youth representatives. It's being funded by the University of Waikato’s Cultural Committee and is part of Hamilton Pride. It will focus on the very high levels of mental health issues among rainbow people, especially youth. Research shows young people who are attracted to the same sex have the highest levels of suicide attempts of all young people in New Zealand. More than a quarter of Auckland mental health clients who took part in a 2012 needs assessment study, 'Let's Talk About Sex', were 'rainbow'. The panel will take place in Te Whare Tapere Iti at the Gallagher Centre for Performing Arts at the University of Waikato on 1 November 2014, starting at 3PM.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Tuesday, 21st October 2014 - 10:23am