Sexual Minorities and Mental Health Current Perspectives and New Directions

This edited book presents a comprehensive guide to the research, challenges and differing perspectives within mental health for sexual minority populations in the UK. Drawing on clinical, social, health and community psychology perspectives, it brings the urgency of this topic back to the fore, providing insight into some of ways we understand and make sense of the increased prevalence of poorer mental health in these populations.

Using an intersectional approach, a broad range of experts from across academia and practice explore the specific threat and discrimination faced by sexual minorities and investigate the high prevalence of poor mental health, health risk behaviours and psychological distress in these groups. The volume also offers innovative insight as to ways in which the disparities experienced by sexual minorities may be addressed. Ideal for practitioners in mental health and sexuality, as well as psychologists, policy makers, and academics alike interested in mental health, sexuality, public health, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, or counselling, this collection features wide array of qualitative and quantitative sources to describe the current state of the art with an interdisciplinary lens.

Part 1.- What: Introduction.- 1.Introduction: Joanna Semlyen  Poul Rohleder.- 2. Prevalence of mental health problems: Joanna Semlyen.- 3. Self harm/suicide: Liz McDermott,Professor of Health Inequality Affiliation, Faculty of Health & Medicine, Lancaster University, UK Part 2.- Why: Issues.- 4.Social prejudice: Sonja Ellis, Associate Professor Human Development, The University of Waikato, New Zealand.-  5. Culture and Social norms: Rusi Jaspal, Professor and Pro Vice.- Chancellor for Research, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK.-  6. Mental health and sexual orientation across the Lifespan (youth, older age): Sue Westwood, Lecturer in Law, York Law School, University of York, UK..-  7. Coming out: Ian Rivers, Professor of Education for Social Change, University of Strathclyde, UK.- 8. Intersecting Identities: gender and sexual diversity.-  9. Harmful practices: Conversion therapy: Annie Bartlett, Professor and Head of Interdisciplinary Studies, St George’s University of London, UK. Part 3 How: Interventions.- 10.  Formulation: Martin Milton: Professor of Counselling Psychology at the School of Psychotherapy and Psychology, Regents University London, UK.- 11. Affirmative practice: Catherine Butler, Independent Clinical Psychologist and Systemic Psychotherapist, UK.- 12 CBT for LGB: Joanna Semlyen & Kate Rimes, Reader and Programme Director in Clinical Psychology, King’s College, London, UK.- 13 Psychoanalysis: Friend or Foe?: Poul Rohleder.- 14. Working with Couples: Dominic Davies, Psychotherapist and Founder of Pink Therapy, UK.- 15.Addressing substance abuse: Alex Margetts, Clinical Psychologist and Clinical Tutor at Leicester University, UK.-  16.      Working with sexual minority youth: Katherine Johnson, Professor of Psychology, University of Brighton, UK.-  17.Working with gender diverse sexual minorities: Christina Richards, Clinical Research Fellow, NHS, UK.-  18.Community Organisations: Monty Montcrieff, CEO of London Friend, UK.

Dr Joanna Semlyen is a health psychologist and associate professor in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of East Anglia, UK. Dr Semlyen’s research focus is on the health and healthcare experiences of minoritized populations and publishes widely in the area of health inequalities in gender and sexual minorities.

 Dr Poul Rohleder is a clinical psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist in private practice in central London. He is an Honorary Senior Lecturer at the Department of Psychosocial and Psychoanalytic Studies, University of Essex, UK, and has been involved in the training of clinical psychologists and psychodynamic counsellors/psychotherapists for many years.