We wanted to ensure that young people who have fewer opportunities because of their sexual orientation, expression or identity have more resources, opportunities, capacity and support to deal with mental health problems. The specific objectives we wanted to achieve were: 1. to strengthen the social context of young people with fewer opportunities due to social barriers in Latvia, Slovenia and other European countries, 2. to establish a programme and methodology that provides a structure and professional framework for young people with fewer opportunities to offer community-based peer support to other young people with fewer opportunities, 3. bringing the European dimension of social barriers and mental health closer through networking of LGBTQIA+ young people at European level (specifically between Latvia and Slovenia), 4. prevention of major distress and poor mental health outcomes (such as self-harm behaviour, suicidal thoughts) among young people with fewer opportunities due to social barriers in Latvia and Slovenia, 5. disseminating information, resources and ways of working that raise awareness of the intersection of adverse personal circumstances and mental health problems.
Identified needs of the target groups addressed by the project: - Accessible, respectful, organised and integrated form of psychosocial support. - learning experience of working with young people with fewer opportunities, peer counselling, applying professional concepts and principles of work in an informal but formally organised and supported way - mentoring and professional support in daily challenges - addressing mental health problems, taking into account personal circumstances that may cause or significantly affect mental health - preventing isolation, loneliness and the distress that results - Strengthening communities of young people with fewer opportunities so that they can better support each other, even in more informal contexts, to create long-term change.