Minority Stress, Belonging, and Wellbeing

Season 5, episode 9.

This week we speak with the brilliant Dr Liam Cahill and Dr Beth Jones about their research into LGBTQ+ mental health, wellbeing, body image, and community experiences. We explore minority stress, loneliness, community connection, and the mental health impacts of discrimination and misinformation. Emphasising co-produced, affirmative research and real-world impact, Beth and Liam highlight how centring lived experience can inform better policy and practice, while sharing optimism grounded in resilient communities and a growing generation of engaged, affirming researchers.

Links to research referenced in this episode:

• Understanding protective and risk factors in preventing suicide among LGBTQ+ youth in the UK
  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00207411.2025.2575422 
• State of Play: Mental Health, Gender Minority Stress and Affirmative Experiences among Trans and Gender Diverse Young People in the United Kingdom
  https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/8wysb_v1 
• Understanding the role of gender congruence and affirming care in trans men’s body image and quality of life
  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/26895269.2025.2483223 
• “I feel good, I feel comfortable, I feel at home”: Understanding the role of positive body image manifestations, body neutrality and functionality appreciation for trans men
  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1740144525000920 
• “My queer identity and my family identity are two very separate things”: A mixed-methods study investigating the psychological implications of family identity and support for trans and gender diverse youth during the COVID-19 pandemic
  https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-12600-001 
• "[He] can be supportive, but at times I feel he is ashamed of me": Understanding the relationship between parental support and quality of life amongst trans and gender diverse youth in the UK
  https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38328592/ 
• Exploring the mental health experiences of young trans and gender diverse people during the Covid-19 pandemic
  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10373615/ 

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