Pride 2024 with CK Guru : Spotlight on Mental Health and free Insurance

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“Having once been a trans youth myself, I know firsthand how difficult the healthcare system is to navigate. Many that have not experienced it themselves believe that there must be accessible and extensive resources for these youth, considering we’re in Ontario in 2024, however that is not the case. There is a massive gap in the current healthcare infrastructure, which has led to large amounts of misinformation on the side of both healthcare providers and trans people themselves.” – Ilya Robinson

This Pride Month, we wanted to celebrate and bring focus to two of our Press Start CoLab Program Grant Recipients working to bridge the gap between mental health resources and 2SLGBTQIAP+ communities in Canada. We believe it is essential to emphasize the ongoing socioeconomic barriers to accessing 2SLGBTQIAP+ mental health services and the impact of discrimination on 2SLGBTQIAP+ mental health while also highlighting the strength, resiliency and innovative work that is being done by youth changemakers to create a better tomorrow.  

While not generalizing the individual experiences of members of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community, let’s take a look at some recent statistics of 2SLGBTQIAP+ mental health in comparison to heterosexual Canadians, and the inspiring work being done by Press Start CoLab Program Grant Recipients, Ilya Robinson and Mabe Kyle.  

2SLGBTQIAP+ Mental Health Today   

Although progress has been made, many 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals in Canada continue to face violence, discrimination and isolation in workplaces, at home, and within communities. These ongoing lived experiences significantly impact the physical safety and mental health of 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals.   

In fact, the Canadian Mental Health Association illustrates that in 2022, Statistics Canada reports that “sexual-minority Canadians were more likely than heterosexual Canadians to report that they consider their mental health to be poor or fair (32% versus 11%). They were also more likely to have seriously contemplated suicide in their lifetimes (40% versus 15%) and to have been diagnosed with a mood or anxiety disorder (41% versus 16%)“.  

Despite the increasing rates of anxiety, depression, and trauma faced by 2SLGBTQIAP+ individuals, as a result of facing disproportionate violence and discrimination, there continues to be a lack of adequate and accessible mental health resources available. Further barriers include socioeconomic factors, including the lack of spaces that ensure the psychological and physical safety of patients seeking care.  

“Having once been a trans youth myself, I know firsthand how difficult the healthcare system is to navigate. Many that have not experienced it themselves believe that there must be accessible and extensive resources for these youth, considering we’re in Ontario in 2024, however that is not the case. There is a massive gap in the current healthcare infrastructure, which has led to large amounts of misinformation on the side of both healthcare providers and trans people themselves.” – Ilya Robinson  

One of our goals with the Press Start CoLab Program is to highlight the intersections of the Mental Health Crisis in Canada and provide tangible resources to youth changemakers passionate about filling the gaps they recognize in their communities. Two of our 2023 Grant Recipients, Ilya Robinson and Mabe Kyle, have done just that with their innovative solutions

Rural Queer Survival Guide by Mabe Kyle   

The Rural Queer Survival Guide aims to bridge the gap between the lack of accessible mental health resources and 2SLGBTQIAP+ resources available for 2SLGBTQIAP+ youth. The Survival Guide would have a digital component featuring different articles and blog posts to navigate, with six main chapters, all written by and for rural 2SLGBTQIAP+ people from across what is colonially known as Canada. In the past 6-months, Mabe has partnered with a company to publish the Rural Queer Survival Guide anthology that will put out a call out for stories to include in the project.  

“It has been exciting reading the different stories that have come in through the submissions. The impact that the grant funding has had on my solution over the past year is the ability to be able to pay the artists and authors whose submissions are selected to be a part of the anthology.” – Mabe Kyle  

Many stories have already been submitted to be featured in the Guide. The grant funding from the CoLab Program has allowed Mabe to pay the artists and authors whose submissions are selected for the anthology.  Follow progress through the Rural Ontario Community of Queer Youth, Caitlin Press, and on Instagram. 

Spotlight: Efflora by Ilya Robinson    

Previously known as the Trans Healthcare Database, Efflora is a collaboration between CoLab Program Alumni Chloe White, who works in mental health, CoLab Program mentor Jonathan Friedman, who hosts the site, and Ilya, who works in transgender health. The project aims to simplify access to mental healthcare, trans healthcare, and community support by creating a transparent, easy-to-use, and up-to-date online database. Alongside the database will be additional related resources, including curated reviews, guides, and community events.  

Efflora thoughtfully integrates feedback from members of the 2SLGBTQIAP+ community while being careful not to generalize the lived experiences of these individuals. For example, “the needs of a trans kid,” Ilya describes, “are widely different from that of a gay elder, and depending on the scope of the project, different consultations and leadership are required to meaningfully impact the target group.” Ilya’s approach is to learn from and prioritize the needs of rural, black, Indigenous, and transfeminine youth. In their actual work, this can manifest as having initiatives specifically for trans women or working with intersex-led organizations. 

“I think that in many non-profits, it is very easy to lose sight of why you’re doing whatever you’re doing. A lot of work happens behind a desk, or online, which can be exhausting. Every single time I have had the chance to actually talk to the people that I am working to help- trans youth- I feel reinvigorated. Connecting to the people I am working to serve always helps me realize the importance of what I am doing.” – Ilya Robinson  

Ilya’s primary long-term goals with Efflora are to increase access to knowledge, resources, and community for trans youth across Ontario. The overarching aim is to improve the sense of self-empowerment and self-advocacy in interpersonal, medical, legal, and professional settings amongst 2SLGBTQIAP+ youth.  

We are thrilled to share that, in addition to being a 2023 CoLab Program Grant Recipient, Ilya will be a mentor for the 2024 Press Start CoLab High School Program, which is piloting in Ontario. Leading up to the program this Fall, Ilya shares some advice for other entrepreneurs looking to address gaps in mental healthcare for marginalized communities.  

“My main advice would be to target an area you have direct experience or a direct connection with. I believe that this allows entrepreneurs to start off with a strong knowledge base and community connections in their chosen field, which they can rely on and fall back on throughout their innovation journey.” – Ilya Robinson  

Follow progress through Efflora’s website and on Instagram.

Looking To the Future  

Although there is still so much work ahead to improve the accessibility of mental health resources for the 2SLGBTQI+ community, with passionate youth changemakers like Mabe and Ilya, we feel inspired and hopeful about the progress. Thank you to the brave, innovative thinkers like Mabe and Ilya for your work. We look forward to your solutions evolving and creating a positive impact amongst 2SLGBTQI+ communities. We are eager to continue to support solutions that address the mental health crisis in Canada from an intersectional perspective through the 2024 Press Start CoLab Program!  

With resources continuing to evolve, here are some existing 2SLGBTQI+ Resources for folks seeking immediate support:  

• Lesbian, Gay, Bi and Trans Youthline – The Lesbian, Gay, Bi & Trans Youthline offers free peer support for youth aged 26 and under (1-800-268-9688).  
• Parents, Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) – PFLAG is a resource for 2SLGBTQI+ people and their families.  
• Kids Help Phone – Children and youth ages 5 to 20 can speak with trained counsellors at Kids Health Phone (1-800-668-6868).  
• Egale – National lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) human rights organization: advancing equality, diversity, education and justice