Case Study: Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust improves LGBT mental health outcomes with NHS Employers

Improving the outcomes of mental health problems among the LGBT community

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust worked with **NHS Employers** to tackle mental health inequalities affecting the local lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community. The trust identified that stigma, discrimination and barriers to mainstream services were contributing to poorer mental health outcomes, and it needed a more accessible early-intervention approach. The service developed was the **Open Mind IAPT** talking therapy pathway.

**NHS Employers** supported the creation of a specialist LGBT-friendly service that included one-to-one psychological support, self-referral, direct referral options to gender identity clinics, and LGBT competency training for clinicians. The initiative improved access to mental health support, increased staff confidence and mainstream engagement, strengthened safeguarding and community trust, and boosted media and public engagement, all without increasing funding.

Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust