Queerwell has launched this guide to help incoming university students
BY CAITLIN NEWMAN, IMAGE BY GETTY IMAGES/CANVA
In the run-up to the upcoming academic year, LGBTQIA+ mental health charity Queerwell have launched their support guide for incoming queer university students. The resource comes after Queerwell and Dr Alessandro De Arcangelis’s research report early this year on LGBTQIA+ mental health disparities. Their report highlights the many systemic barriers to LGBTQIA+ support and positive wellbeing, including the lack of widespread queer-specific training and resources within working environments and healthcare settings.
Queerwell have endeavoured to increase queer-affirming support across their work, through their Wellness In The Workplace workshops, community Sunday Sanctuary events and, most recently, through support for students in partnership with Salford University.
The recent focus on student wellbeing comes in light of research from the Student Academic Experience Survey 2024, which found that 40% of LGBTQIA+ students reported having a mental health condition, compared to 15% of non-LGBTQIA+ students. The prevalence of mental ill-health was especially high in lesbians (29%), bisexuals (30%), trans students (up to 40%) and non-binary students (over 50%, the highest of any group).
However, there is still hope that queer students can thrive at university. In the Student Academic Experience Survey, it was also noted that university has a positive effect for many LGBTQIA+ students, with queer student wellbeing tending to improve whilst at university. We asked some current and recently graduated queer students about their best experiences at university, and many reported finding community, describing the euphoria of “going to queer-specific events and being surrounded by queer people.” Many universities are also starting to roll out additional trans+ support; one student informed us of their university’s “Gender Recognition Fund”, a vital resource for funding social and medical transition and trans-affirming wellbeing provisions.
Many universities are making great strides in strengthening their community-driven care, but how do we ensure queer students are able to access it? Queerwell’s latest student support guide combines queer hope and joy with tangible and practical guidance to help this year’s queer cohort get off to the best start at university. Featuring contributions from queer students, LGBTQIA+ mental health practitioners and neurodivergent specialists, the document provides guidance on the full queer student experience, from navigating name changes and trans+ medical documents to finding queer communities and preventing burnout.
If you’re a queer student starting university this autumn, we at the Queerwell team are rooting for you. Be sure to check out Queerwell’s student resources here.
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