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Description
This project concerns the problem of increasing prejudice, abuse, and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and also the insufficient support provided for young LGBTQIA people in Białystok. The condition of LGBTQIA people in Poland is exceptionally poor – five times more LGBTQIA people suffer from depression than heterosexual and cisgender people, and approximately 70% of young people consider suicide. The I Białystok gay pride march, at which there were dangerous hated-related attacks, was traumatic for the local LGBTQIA community. At local government level, a homophobic resolution was pushed through opposing LGBT ideology and excluding LGBTQIA people from the local community. Meanwhile, in essence, LGBTQIA people have no means of seeking help in a crisis because the local institutions responsible for preventing abuse do not provide help for this minority. At times, the pandemic is especially difficult for the LGBTQIA community – particularly for young people, who are at greater risk of domestic abuse when isolated.Under the project, the Project Promoter will provide psychological support for LGBTQIA people in Białystok and the surrounding area, and those close to them. There will be a confidential helpline, and online support. Persons who provide psychological counselling will be able to make use of supervision. There will also be a publicity campaign consisting of six billboards promoting free psychological support. The project will be useful above all to young LGBTQIA people (approximately 200 people) in the Podlaski voivodship, especially in rural areas, who are financially dependent on their parents and have limited access to psychological aid. The support provided will help to reduce minority stress and improve self-acceptance of young LBGTQIA people. The counselling will also be useful to parents of LGBTQIA people in need of emotional support and psychoeducation.
Summary of project results
The project addressed the problem of increasing prejudice, violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and the lack of sufficient support for LGBT+ youth in Bialystok. The situation of LGBT+ people in Poland is extremely poor, with LGBT+ people more than five times more likely to suffer from depression than heterosexual and cisgender people, and around 70% of young people having suicidal thoughts. A traumatic experience for the local LGBT+ community was the 1st Bialystok Equality March, which saw dangerous hate attacks. A homophobic resolution ''against LGBT ideology'' was pushed through at local government level, excluding LGBT+ people from the local community. Meanwhile, LGBT+ people have virtually no way of getting help in a crisis situation, as local anti-violence institutions do not offer support to this group. The pandemic was an exceptionally difficult time - especially for LGBT+ young people, who were more vulnerable to domestic violence in isolation.
The Project Promoter provided psychological support to LGBT+ people from Bialystok and the surrounding area and their relatives. The support was provided through an anonymous toll-free helpline and an email helpline staffed by two female psychologists. The psychologists'' work was subject to regular supervision. LGBT+ people from the Podlaskie Voivodeship benefited from the support, mainly young people financially dependent on their parents, people facing difficulties related to sexual orientation and/or gender identity, discrimination, mental crises, minority stress, as well as parents of LGBT+ people. The Project Promoter conducted an information campaign to promote the possibility of free psychological support.
The project filled a very important gap, which was the lack of intervention support for LGBT+ people in the region. Intervention psychological support via a helpline was used by 64 people, mainly young adults with problems of acceptance in a group because of their sexual orientation. Intervention psychological support through a helpline email was used by 9 people. The help offered had a positive impact on reducing minority stress and increasing self-acceptance among LBGT+ young people from Bialystok and the surrounding area.