11/04/2021
Many LGBTQ people are drawn to the caring professions. This is as true in the United States as it is here in the United Kingdom, and a large number of gay men, lesbian women, trans people and gender non binary people work in health care, as paramedics or for other frontline services delivering life saving and much required support to the suffering and needy. NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and another group with a longstanding gay friendly policy platform, has organized its resources to help frontline service staff who are experiencing distress and burn out as they help others. NAMI says “For many frontline professionals, the pandemic has taken a toll on their mental wellness. And if you are struggling, you are not alone. We want you to know that NAMI is here to help”. On the website of the national USA network, there are embedded videos, articles and links to sources of support. The charity is also organizing a helpline so that frontline workers can talk to someone about any distress they are experiencing. Corporate support from Johnson and Johnson and from LGBTQ friendly coffee network Starbucks has been essential to NAMI in developing its resources. These can be accessed here at NAMI.org and searching through the site for frontline services.
