Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal
Publisher
Taylor & Francis
School
School of Arts and Humanities
Abstract
Young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning, asexual and other diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQA+) are at greater risk of adverse mental health outcomes and suicide, with additional barriers to accessing safe and affirming physical and mental health services in comparison to the general population. Parents of LGBTQA+ young people who are supportive and accepting can take on additional responsibilities and an active role in supporting young people, and more information is needed to understand how parents support LGBTQA+ young people in times of acute mental health difficulties (including suicide risk) and what parents experience while navigating support systems. It is imperative these experiences are better understood to inform other parents, clinicians and service providers alike. We aimed to develop a nuanced understanding of the experiences of Australian parents of LGBTQA+ young people in providing support during times of acute distress and suicidal crisis. We utilized an exploratory qualitative design using semi-structured one-on-one interviews with 11 parents. We provide clinically useful recommendations, with the aim of aiding enhanced parental support for LGBTQA+ young people, given this population’s unique needs.
DOI
10.1080/27703371.2024.2344595
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Comments
Gilbert, J. M., Strauss, P., Drake, D., Stain, H., Perry, Y., Cook, A., . . . Morgan, H. (2024). Parental experiences of supporting the mental health of their LGBTQA+ child. LGBTQ+ Family: An Interdisciplinary Journal. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/27703371.2024.2344595