Most young people never seek support for their suicidal thoughts and behaviours. Research with high school-aged youth found that fewer than a third of those reporting suicidal ideation sought adult help. LGBTQI+ youth report higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts than their heterosexual and cisgender peers.
The HSRC and Iranti, a Johannesburg-based organisation that advocates for the rights of LGBTQI+ persons, are partnering on a study called Vuka Youth: The LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Survey in South Africa. This study aims to identify the risk and protective factors associated with mental health and suicidality among a diverse group of LGBTQI+ youth aged 13–24 years in South Africa.
Please join this hybrid seminar, where we will explore how the findings of this work could improve knowledge and advocacy for the mental health needs of LGBTQI+ youth.
- Jade Madingwane, director of the Forum for the Empowerment of Women will reflect on the cases they have dealt with from youth LGBTIQ+ and why such a survey would be critical to their work.
- Ntuthuzo Ndzomo from Iranti will discuss the mental health challenges of young LGBTQI+ individuals in South African communities.
- Bayanda Ndumiso, director of Impulse Cape Town, which is part of a global volunteer group of active gay men who promote healthier sexual lifestyles, will discuss post-school youth issues related to mental health and some of the interventions they have tried to introduce.
- A participant from Vuka Youth will share perspectives on mental health among the LGBTQI+ youth in South Africa.
- Drs Allanise Cloete and Candice Groenewald from the HSRC will speak about the importance of the Vuka study.
For more information, please contact: Dr Allanise Cloete at acloete@hsrc.ac.za
Date: 29 February 2024
Time: 11:00 – 13:00
Venue: HSRC, Room CPT69, The Yacht Club, 2 Dockrail Road, Cape Town
To attend via Zoom, please register here
In proud partnership with:
