Mental Health Commission launches groundbreaking guidance to support LGBTQIA+ inclusion in mental health services

The Mental Health Commission has today, Friday June 6, launched a landmark guidance document and training resource designed to support staff working across all mental health services - ranging from inpatient units to community-based settings - in delivering inclusive, respectful, and equitable care to LGBTQIA+ service users.

This practical and timely document – which is being launched this morning at the LGBT Ireland National Conference in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - offers clear and accessible guidance to mental health professionals on how to best meet the needs of LGBTQIA+ individuals accessing services. By addressing common questions and information gaps, the MHC aims to promote a deeper understanding of the unique challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ people and to improve service-user experiences across Ireland’s mental health system.

Raising awareness and supporting positive change

The guidance underscores the rights of LGBTQIA+ people and is grounded in an MHC-commissioned evidence review, which highlights the disproportionate levels of mental distress and unmet needs among LGBTQIA+ populations - especially among young people and transgender individuals.

Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler, TD, said: “I am acutely aware of the mental health challenges faced by many members of the LGBTQIA+ community. I welcome this new guidance and training resource from the MHC to support a more inclusive approach to providing mental health services with and for LGBTQIA+ people. Everyone who uses a mental health service should feel confident that they can access services which are inclusive, compassionate and completely non-judgmental. I encourage all those who deliver and work in mental health services to implement the important and practical steps contained in the guidance.”

Speaking on the launch, John Farrelly, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Commission, stated: “The evidence is clear from important studies such as Being LGBTQIA+ in Ireland. Many LGBTQIA+ people face significant mental health challenges that may not always be adequately addressed. Our guidance document is a response to that reality. It recognises that even where staff only have a surface-level understanding of LGBTQIA+ issues, their openness to learn and evolve is key to delivering truly inclusive care. This guidance is a call to action for mental health services to continue to become more responsive, affirming, and equitable.”

Gary Kiernan, Director of Regulation at the Mental Health Commission, said: “During our consultation process, many people told us about supportive and affirming interactions they had with mental health services. However, many also talked about experiences where they felt that their needs, as LGBTQIA+ people were not met or understood. Many staff we spoke to told us that they didn’t want to say the wrong thing and therefore often redirect the conversation away from LGBTQIA+ topics due to this fear. Through the development of this guidance and training module, specifically tailored for mental health staff, we want to address some of these knowledge gaps and create care environments which are inclusive and welcoming to all.”
 

Paula Fagan, CEO of LGBT Ireland, welcomed the publication, saying: “We warmly welcome this practical and much-needed guidance from the Mental Health Commission. The 'Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland' study shows that mental health outcomes for LGBTQIA+ individuals have worsened in recent years, with significant rises in symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. This document is a vital step toward changing that trajectory by equipping staff with the tools and awareness they need to treat LGBTQIA+ service users with dignity, understanding and respect.”
 

Evidence-based and informed by lived experience

The guidance draws on significant Irish research, including the Being LGBTQI+ In Ireland and My LGBTI+ Voice Matters studies, which consistently demonstrate that LGBTQIA+ individuals experience a higher burden of mental health difficulties compared to the general population.
Key findings from the MHC-commissioned evidence review include:

• Higher rates of suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, and non-suicidal self-injury among LGBTQIA+ people.
• Increased prevalence of anxiety, depression - including perinatal depression - and eating disorders, particularly among sexual minorities.
• High levels of discrimination, stigma, and minority stress that impact mental wellbeing.
• Barriers to accessing affirming mental health care, including staff attitudes, systemic challenges, and limited geographical access.
  The guidance, while non-clinical in nature, offers a roadmap for improving service delivery and ensuring that LGBTQIA+ people receive safe, inclusive, and supportive mental health care.

The guidance document is now available on the Mental Health Commission website (MHC Guidance for Staff working in Mental Health Service on the Care and Treatment of LGBTQIA People.pdf) while the training module, entitled ‘Practical guidance for LGBTQIA+ mental health care’, is available on HSELanD. The training module complements existing modules on ‘LGBT+ Awareness Training’ and ‘An Introduction to Transgender Awareness in Healthcare’, and is the first training aimed specifically for staff working in mental health services.

1: LGBTQIA+ stands for ‘lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex and asexual’ with the ‘+’ signifying inclusivity to all sexual and gender identities.