Trinity and Belong To partner for first national study on LGBTQI+ mental health since marriage equality referendum
Posted on: 14 September 2022
Belong To and Trinity College Dublin have partnered for a national study: Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland which will examine the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ people in the Republic of Ireland and investigate public attitudes towards LGBTQI+ people.
/prod01/channel_3/media/tcd/news-images/Being-LGBTQI----750-x-450-.jpg)
Belong To and Trinity College have partnered for a national study: Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland which 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.
The 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 anonymous research is now open and provides a chance for LGBTQI+ people over 14 to share their experiences of being LGBTQI+ in Ireland today. You can take part in the study here: www.beinglgbtqi.ie
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.