LGBT+ History Month is celebrated in February every year across the UK. It’s an opportunity for us all to raise awareness around the contributions and achievements of LGBTQIA+ communities around the world.
This year, the theme of LGBT+ History Month is ‘Medicine – #UnderTheScope.
‘The 2024 theme celebrates LGBT+ peoples’ contribution to the field of medicine and healthcare both historically and today.
We want to showcase the amazing work of LGBT+ staff across the NHS and in other healthcare settings, in providing healthcare, especially during the pandemic. Whilst still shining a light on the history of the LGBT+ community’s experience of receiving healthcare which has been extremely complicated leaving LGBT+ people still facing health inequalities even today.’ – LGBT+ History Month.
The power of people
Here at Everyturn, our amazing people are at the heart of everything we do. We’re passionate about the importance of lived experience – especially when supporting people with their mental health.
A huge focus for us as an organisation is equity, inclusion and diversity – which is why we’ve recently signed the EW Inclusive Culture pledge, making a commitment to create an open culture, with our organisational values at the core of the work we do to support people and communities.
Recently, we’ve appointed a group of national champions for our NHS Talking Therapies services. Our national champions will help us to make sure we’re delivering our best in each of our specialism service areas.
One of these areas is LGBTQIA+ communities, and we’re incredibly grateful to be guided by our LGBTQIA+ national champion – Lucy!
Lucy kindly shared with us a bit about herself, her role here at Everyturn, and her passion for supporting LGBTQIA+ communities.
“I’m Lucy Henderson (she/they), I work as a patient coordinator for our NHS Kent and Medway Talking Therapies service. This involves being the first contact for clients and ensuring a smooth journey throughout the service, including taking referrals and booking appointments.”
“I am also the LGBTQ+ National Champion which involves working closely with the LGBTQ+ Network Senior Committee. This role involves raising awareness for the community, sharing resources, researching possible training for employees who are working with LGBTQ+ clients and making sure we follow the NHS Talking Therapies good practice guidance. Recently, I have been researching LGBTQ+ awareness training for colleagues to help raise awareness and also to increase our knowledge base.“
“As a non-binary, queer individual, I am incredibly passionate about supporting the LGBTQ+ community. I believe that raising awareness is hugely important in order to reduce stereotypes and create more understanding of the community. I also believe it is important to try and improve access to talking therapies for LGBTQ+ individuals as there are still health inequalities within this community for both physical and mental health conditions.”
You can read more about Lucy’s work at Everyturn here.
Below are some resources, services and helplines Lucy has kindly gathered:
- LGBT Health – NHS
- LGBT in Britain – Health – a report by Stonewall
- Hidden Figures: LGBT Health Inequalities in the UK – a report by LGBT Foundation
- An article by The Kings Fund on NHS LGBTQ+ staff and patients
- A blog by the NHS Confederation on the experiences of LGBTQ+ NHS staff
Services and helplines
- Switchboard – LGBTQ+ helpline, open 10am-10pm everyday – 0800 0119 100
- LGBT Foundation – Advice, support and information – 0345 330 3030
- Mermaids – supports gender-diverse young people aged 19 and under – 0808 801 0400
- Stonewall – information and advice – 08000 50 20 20