Project 448442

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially distressing for members of Canada's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and two-spirit (LGBTQI2S+) communities. Due to stigma and social isolation, LGBTQI2S+ people are more vulnerable to mental health problems. In July 2020, we launched a survey that has received responses from over 3500 people pre-vaccination. We now seek funding to conduct follow-ups post-vaccination and one year after. Our research aims to identify psychological and social characteristics that are associated with risk and resilience in mental health changes of LGBTQI2S+ Canadians. Our 3-year research project will be done in three parts by means of an online survey, interviews, and the collection of biological samples to look at stress and sex hormones over time. We expect to better understand how LGBTQI2S+ are coping during the COVID-19 crisis and how this relates to their mental health. We also expect to identify risk factors contribute to poorer mental health such as stigma, poverty, and social isolation. By contrast, we also expect to identify unique ways that LGBTQI2S+ people who have had past experiences of stigma and adversity are able to cope well during the COVID-19 crisis. This form of resilience among some LGBTQI2S+ people is expected to be related to more favorable mental health outcomes. Studying this form of 'crisis competence' with our survey, interviews, and biological sampling will allow us to understand how stigmatized groups can sometimes develop adaptive ways of coping with distinct crises (e.g., HIV/AIDS pandemic, COVID-19 pandemic). By working in partnership with LGBTQI2S+ organizations, we are actively engaged to help identify the health and wellness needs during the COVID-19 crisis and thereafter with future studies and follow-ups. Collectively, this will help us improve the social, policy, and public health initiatives that serve LGBTQI2S+ communities in Canada and prepare for future crises.