Improving the mental health outcomes of Nottingham's LGBT population

During 2017, NHS Nottingham City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) commissioned a research study about improving the mental health outcomes of Nottingham’s LGBT population. Colleagues from the University of Leicester were successful in winning the contract for this research (Principal Investigator, Dr Rebecca Barnes, with Co-Investigators Dr Tammy Ayres and Dr Clare Gunby), in collaboration with Professor Katherine Johnson, Professor of Psychology and Sexualities at the University of Brighton.

The research will inform how the CCG can best commission primary and community health services to meet the mental health needs of LGBT people and to promote and support appropriate and timely mental health service uptake. The focus of the research is on improving mental health outcomes with regard to prevention, early diagnosis and self-care.

The research started in December 2017 and ends in June 2019. A mixed-methods approach has been adopted, including:

• A rapid evidence assessment (an intensive review of existing literature and best practice)
• Analysis of relevant statistics
• Focus groups with a diverse cross-section of the local LGBT population
• In-depth interviews with current or previous LGBT mental health service users
• Interviews with key stakeholders including health professionals and commissioners of primary and community mental health services
• Creative arts workshops with young LGBT people
• Participatory/creative research activities at Nottinghamshire Pride

The research is guided by a steering group which includes key stakeholders from the CCG and Nottingham City Council, research team members and three volunteer LGBT community researchers who have been recruited to ensure that the research is relevant and accessible to LGBT people in Nottingham City. The community researchers will support the research team to make links to local LGBT organisations, promote the research at Nottinghamshire Pride, develop research tools, co-facilitate focus groups, help interpret the data and help disseminate the findings.

For further information and updates on this project, please contact Dr Rebecca Barnes, Lecturer in Criminology, via email or on +44 (0)116 252 5707.