QueerSpace

QueerSpace aims to connect members of the LGBTQIA+ community seeking therapy with empathetic and accomodating mental health practitioners specially trained in queer affirmative and inclusive practices

Comment

Inspiration

Research suggests that LGBTQIA+ individuals seek mental health treatment at a higher rate than their non-LGBTQIA+ counterparts due to the stigma and discrimination they often face on a regular basis, from society, family members, peers, co-workers, and even classmates which contributes to the higher rates of depression, anxiety, and other mental health struggles prevalent within the queer community. Access to healthcare is a human right, but it doesn’t come without barriers for the LGBTQIA+ community. Apart from the refusal of care, individuals from the community also face discrimination, the invalidation of their struggles, being blamed for their health status, and even verbal and physical abuse in the form of ill-practices like conversion therapy.

What it does

Our solution “QueerSpace” aims to provide a judgment-free space that connects members of the LGBTQIA+ community seeking therapy with empathetic and accomodating mental health practitioners specially trained in queer affirmative and inclusive practices. We hence hope to foster trust, increase accessibility and transparency in mental health service provision for the LGBTQIA+ community.

USP/Innovation

At QueerSpace we believe that mental health services must be made accessible to everyone and we must actively work towards removing the hurdles that people from marginalized communities face when they seek help. Hence we introduce the following features:

1) AI-powered chatbot for users to interact with and convey the issues that they’re facing.

2) Connecting users to the most suitable mental health service provider specializing and certified in queer affirmative and inclusive care.

3) Introducing tie-ups with organizations like Mariwala Health Initiative that provide certification in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice for psychotherapists.

4) Allowing users to rate and leave feedback about their mental health service providers with anonymity.

Feasibilty & Adaptibility

  • Using Natural Language Processing to build the chatbot that users can interact with to convey their issues in detail.
  • Introducing tie-ups with organizations like Mariwala Health Initiative that provide certification in Queer Affirmative Counselling Practice for psychotherapists.
  • Using multi-factor Machine Learning methods on the details provided by users and that of the mental health service providers to connect our user to the most suitable specialist.
  • Taking user feedback and updating the profiles of mental health specialists accordingly to maintain accountability.
  • Launching mobile applications on Android and iOS app stores.

Business Model

  • QueerSpace would provide an interface for facilitating relationships between LGBTQIA+ friendly psychotherapists and their clients i.e. members of the queer community in need of mental health care.
  • QueerSpace will also act as an intermediary between organizations providing certification in queer counseling and registered mental health practitioners to ensure authenticity and credibility.

Impact

“Mental illness is stigmatized still in this era and unfortunately, queer people face double the stigma.”

A recent study by Stonewall found that over the previous year:

  • half of the LGBTQIA+ people had experienced depression and three in five had experienced anxiety
  • one in eight LGBTQIA+ people aged 18-24 had attempted to end their life
  • almost half of trans people had thought about taking their life
  • around one in eight LGBTQIA+ people have experienced unequal treatment from healthcare staff because they are LGBTQIA+
  • one in seven have avoided treatment for fear of discrimination
  • 28% of respondents found it “not at all easy” to access mental health support, when they did get mental health support, 22% reported a negative experience

Through QueerSpace, we aim to bridge the gap between mental health specialists and our users to finally imagine a world wherein queer people receive the health care treatment they require and deserve to finally lead a free, happy, and fulfilled life.

Share this project:

Updates