Maggie: Hello and welcome to this short video as we commemorate IDAHOBIT day or International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, Inter-phobia and Transphobia. My name’s Maggie Toko, and I’m the Consumer Commissioner at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.
Elvis: And I’m Elvis Martin, Youth, LGBTQIA+ and mental health advocate.
Maggie: Firstly, we would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we are meeting, which for us today is Wurundjeri Land. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters and culture and that this land has never been ceded.
Elvis: We also recognise and pay our respects to people with lived and living experience of mental illness and psychological distress, their families, carers, supporters and allies. We acknowledge the importance of the voices of people with lived and living experience and psychological distress in all the work that we do in improving services to people in Victoria.
Maggie: IDAHOBIT Day is a day marking the importance of support, inclusion, acceptance and equality for our LGBTQIA+ community across the globe. It is a day when we celebrate the community to highlight the importance of inclusion and inclusiveness and to take a stand against stigma and discrimination. We want to let all people who identify as LGBTQIA+ know how valued they are in our community.
Elvis: Unfortunately, we know that many people who identify as LGBTQIA+ experience stigma and discrimination and often face unique challenges related to mental health and well-being. This includes higher than average rates of violence, bullying, stigma, discrimination, verbal abuse and exclusion which can all impact mental health. We recognise this struggle and the challenges it brings.
Maggie: Seeking help is a sign of strength. If you, or someone you know needs assistance, there are resources available to support LGBTQIA+ individuals on their mental health journey. These include public mental health services in Victoria and other services such as Switchboard Vic, Rainbow door and QLife. There are also resources for youth and families. These include Rainbow Network, Minus 18 and Ygender. We will share the contact information for these resources in text below.
Elvis: These services can be really useful when you are finding your way. When accessing public mental health and wellbeing services, it is important to know about the Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles that apply. These principles actively consider the diverse needs and experiences of individuals receiving mental health and wellbeing services. Mental health and wellbeing services should be provided in a manner that is safe, sensitive and responsive to each individual. People receiving public mental health and wellbeing services in Victoria should have their individual needs responded to, including appropriate services for the LGBTQIA+ community.
Maggie: The principles of the act apply to everyone, but we want to ensure that people from the LGBTQIA+ community feel safe and supported when accessing mental health and wellbeing services in VIC.
Services should support members in a safe and compassionate way and if you or someone you care for feels that their rights haven’t been upheld while receiving mental health treatment, then it’s OK to complain and voice your concerns. You can make your complaint directly to the service or you can contact the MHWC at 1800 246 054 or visit our website.
Maggie and Elvis: Thank you for watching.
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