To mark Mental Health Awareness Week, we spoke to Suranee Abeysuriya, Director at Rainbow Mind, about the Rainbow Laces campaign, mental health for the LGBTQ+ community and why LGBTQ+ people need safe movement and exercise environments now more than ever.
About Rainbow Mind
“Rainbow Mind exists to tackle health inequality in the LGBTQIA+ community. We provide free mental health and wellbeing activities for all LGBTQIA+ people.
“We run a range of programmes designed to help people build resilience, process trauma and build social connections. Our Move with Pride programme is our physical activity programme which involves sport, physical activities and wellbeing sessions for the whole LGBTQIA+ community.
“For example, we ran a trans running group which was really meaningful for the people that attended, but we have also done open water swimming, yoga, mindful walks, ecology walks and more. We have made sure that there is something for everyone and all abilities.”
LGBTQ+ people need welcoming health and wellbeing services now more than ever
Stonewall’s YouGov research found that 76% of people identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community surveyed have experienced, or were currently experiencing, mental ill-health, compared to 44% of ‘all’ respondents.
At the same time, more than a third of LGBTQ+ people felt that their sexuality was a barrier to participation in sport, exercise or other forms of movement. These barriers have a negative impact on the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ people, something made worse by the increased hostility the community is feeling.
When reflecting on the vital need for this kind of work during this critical period for LGBTQ+ rights, Suranee said:
“Our work, and campaigns like Rainbow Laces are super important in this moment – I think everything’s quite magnified for the LGBTQIA+ community. We’re seeing rights being rolled back which is impacting people’s mental health. When you’re struggling you want to be able to access services that understand you, and where you’re welcome.
“We’ve seen a noticeable uptake in our services over the past year, our wait lists have grown significantly. With many trans people feeling worried about the future right now, we’ve seen a huge uptake of our trans and non-binary radical self-care course.
I’ve seen firsthand that accessing movement and having a welcoming space is a lifeline for so many LGBTQIA+ people.
Sports and exercise get people out of the house, it helps to tackle social isolation and for many of our attendees it can be a gateway to therapeutic support.”
One attendee said: “As an older trans person, I’m always looking for ways to connect with others in the LGBTQIA+ community and stay active […] Having something to attend weekly and that I could continue to do on my own has really helped my mental health. I’ve been feeling better in myself, my mind, and about my future.”
Mental and physical health are intrinsically linked
When asked about the link between movement and mental wellbeing, Suranee said:
“We know that mental and physical health are intrinsically linked. As well as the obvious health benefits, getting outside and participating in physical movement helps to decrease that feeling of social isolation many LGBTQIA+ people have, it helps people build social connections.
With many LGBTQIA+ people not feeling welcome within sport and movement, they could be missing out on that sense of connection and coming together. That’s why cultivating these spaces is so important.
“If people don’t feel safe and like they belong, they just won’t carry on. The way Rainbow Laces is creating a visible network of belonging will help more LGBTQIA+ people feel like they have a place to exercise.”
Visible signals of belonging are powerful
When asked about why organisations, clubs and individuals taking a visible action like signing the Proud Pledge or wearing Rainbow Laces can impact a person’s sense of belonging, Suranee said:
“From what I’ve heard from the people that come to our sessions, I think if you see an outward sign like a pride flag, rainbow laces, a lanyard or the Proud Pledge badge, it gives people a sense of safety that that person or that organisation supports them. It gives them a sense that they’re not alone, that they’re recognised and that they’re acknowledged.
“When I see a visible sign of inclusion, I feel more confident approaching someone or entering a space. Rainbow Laces are a powerful signal of allyship and do make a real difference to someone’s sense of belonging.”
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Rainbow Laces is creating a visible network of belonging across sport, exercise and everyday movement. Find out how you can support the campaign.
To find out more about Rainbow Mind and their services, head to their website or follow them on Instagram.