Adolescence is a time packed with opportunity. Traditionally, Young people unite in carefree leisure pursuits, gradually separating from family through the increasing importance of friendships, study, work and fun.  However young people often isolate, in silence, when coming to terms with personal struggles around sexual orientation.  

This project is a partnership initiative between local schools and mental health services and builds upon Youth Net’s SHOUT research (2003) which shows that the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered) young people are coming out earlier with the average age now around 14 years old – they do not necessarily see that they have a “problem” and are unlikely to approach services until they reach a crisis point.  Young people who took part in this report were at least three times more likely to attempt suicide, two and a half times more likely to self harm, five times more likely to be medicated for depression and twenty times more likely to suffer from an eating disorder than their heterosexual counterparts.     

Sexual orientation in itself is not a risk factor in terms of emotional or mental health problems for young people but the homophobic attitudes of society and our institutions that create problems for the LGBT young people.  Young people may experience problems with homophobic bullying, often a major problem for the school context. There is a risk of pathologising the young person’s sexual orientation rather than encouraging the school to tackle homophobia at all levels in the education system.

This sexual identity project has the following three key aims:

1. To support young people struggling with sexual identity issues through accessible, independent confidential counselling  

2. To raise awareness with teachers, GPs youth work and health professionals of the need for unbiased support, advice and protection for gay and lesbian young people

3. To support parents to welcome adolescent sexuality as a healthy part of their whole identity