A Queer Future for Digital Mental Health: LGBTQ young adult perspectives on engaging with digital mental health tools

Abstract

LGBTQ+ communities are more likely to experience stigma-related stressors that lead to poorer mental health compared to cisgender and heterosexual individuals. For LGBTQ+ young adults, navigating the duality of their sexual orientation or gender identity and mental health can be challenging. Digital mental health (DMH) tools offer an alternative form of clinical care that may be useful for LGBTQ+ individuals wishing to remain anonymous, who need to access care from remote locations, or for those who do not have financial means to seek treatment. However, a user’s personal data can be contextualised in a way that perpetuates rigid gender norms. Gender perspectives that encompass the broad and..