LGBTQ+ people and mental health services research project – Final reports

Explanatory notes

1. Focus on LGBTQ+: Following consultation with the research team and key stakeholders in the LGBTIQA+ community, the brief for the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and Research Translation Report (RTP) was amended to focus on LGBTQ+ people. It was agreed the initial department methodology and search did not attend to the unique experiences and needs of people with innate variations of sex characteristics and asexual people. To address this gap, options for future research, are being considered as part of the development of the 10-Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people. 
2. Research methodology: The methodology and search parameters determined by the department for the Systematic Literature Review (SLR) drew from social, medical and health science databases. Search terms were developed and refined by the department to capture LGBTIQA+ experiences of mental health challenges, and mental health and suicide prevention services, within Australian and one comparison international context, the United Kingdom (UK). All included studies were peer reviewed articles, published between February 2013 and February 2023 and written in English. Insights and evidence from grey literature, such as government policy papers, advocacy papers and other research not published in peer-reviewed journals, was included in the Research Translation Report (RTP). The findings presented should be viewed as an important contribution towards answering the department research questions, and will be used in conjunction with other research conducted by the department and partner organisations to inform the 10-Year National Action Plan for the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTIQA+ people. 
3. Australian and UK literature: The Systematic Literature Review (SLR) was focused on the Australia context, with inclusion of comparable insights from the UK, and did not include research from other countries. This decision was made in the development of the initial search methodology and exclusion criteria as determined by the department. The UK was chosen as a comparator as they have similar levels of government investment in social and health policy and services. Future research in this area could draw on policy and service insights from other countries.