Trinity College Dublin and Belong To partner for the first national study on LGBTQI+ mental health since the marriage equality referendum

Tuesday, September 13^th, 2022

Belong To and Trinity College have partnered for a national study of the mental health and wellbeing of the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland.

Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland will examine the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ people in the Republic of Ireland and investigate public attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people.

The organisations collaborated in 2016 on the LGBTIreland Report with 2,264 respondents. The information for this study was collected during 2014/15, before the same-sex marriage referendum and the introduction of the Gender Recognition Act in 2015. This new body of research will track what has changed for members of the LGBTQI+ community since these major societal milestones.

This anonymous research is now open and provides a chance for LGBTQI+ people over 14 to share their experiences of being LGBTQI+ in Ireland today.

Speaking about the study, Investigator, Professor Agnes Higgins in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College said:

“We are delighted to announce the launch of the Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland research in partnership with Belong To. It is eight years since we conducted the first national survey on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ people in Ireland. This research will repeat the survey to assess changes that have happened since this time, as well as asking new questions to inform policy, service provision, and legislation going forward”.

Welcoming the research, CEO of Belong To, Moninne Griffith said:

“Ireland was lauded as a world-leader in LGBTQI+ rights in 2015 as the first country to approve marriage for same-sex couples by popular vote. With this new study, we will see how Ireland has changed since this time for members of the LGBTQI+ community and if we still deserve to hold this title.

We are thrilled to partner with Trinity College Dublin on this research and take a snapshot in time of what it is like to be LGBTQI+ in Ireland today. I would like to thank our funders for providing us with the opportunity to conduct this important study.”

The Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland research is being conducted by a group of researchers led by Professor Agnes Higgins in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with Belong To.

This study is funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) & Social Inclusion, Health Service Executive (HSE) and the What Works and Dormant Accounts Fund, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth through Belong To.

ENDS

Notes to editors

• The following individuals are available for interview:
• Professor Agnes Higgins: Principal Investigator and Professor in Mental Health, School of Nursing & Midwifery at Trinity College Dublin,
• Moninne Griffith, CEO of Belong To, LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland
• Matt Kennedy, Research and Policy Officer, Belong To, LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland

To arrange an interview, please contact Sinead Keane, Belong To | 087 768 0389 or sinead@belongto.org

About the Study

Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland is a research project that aims to examine the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ people in the Republic of Ireland and investigate public attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people. The Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland research is being conducted by a group of researchers led by Professor Agnes Higgins in the School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin in collaboration with Belong To. This study is funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) & Social Inclusion, Health Service Executive (HSE) and the What Works and Dormant Accounts Fund, Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth through Belong To. the National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) through Belong To. A wide range of organisations are also working with us on this study, including other LGBTQI+ organisations, statutory agencies, and government departments: www.beinglgbtqi.ie

• Belong To is a national organisation supporting LGBTQ+ young people. Since 2003, Belong To has worked with LGBTQ+ young people to create a world where they are equal, safe, and valued in the diversity of their identities and experiences. The organisation advocates and campaigns on behalf of young LGBTQ+ people and offers a specialised LGBTQ+ youth service including information, support, crisis counselling in partnership with Pieta House and the provision of LGBTQ+ youth groups across Ireland. www.org

• Trinity College Dublin, the University of Dublin is ranked 1st in Ireland and in the top 100 world universities by the QS World University Rankings. The School of Nursing and Midwifery is ranked 42nd in the World in the QS World University Subject Rankings 2022 and is proud to offer a wide range of programmes at undergraduateand postgraduate