Resilience in spite of stigma

Today is the International Day against Homophobia, Biphobia, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT). Gender-based violence disproportionately affects people who identify as LGBTQ2S+ and gender non-conforming individuals. Trend analyses of the province-wide BC Adolescent Health Survey tell us that lesbian, gay, or bisexual youth are three to six times more likely to experience dating violence than their straight peers. In addition, our Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey finds trans and non-binary youth report even higher rates of dating violence.

Today, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) announced that SARAVYC will receive approximately $1 million over the next five years to develop, implement, and evaluate a healthy relationship intervention for sexual and gender minority youth.

By LGBTQ2S+ youth for LGBTQ2S+ youth

The program will be co-developed with LGBTQ2S+ youth for LGBTQ2S+ youth and will consist of several 20-minute modules to be delivered during school lunch periods—when most Gender Sexuality Alliance (GSA) Clubs meet—or as part of after-school or community programming. The modules will be based on the information-motivation-behavioural (IMB) skills model that focuses on informing and motivating individuals in order to change behaviours.

SARAVYC, in collaboration with the McCreary Centre Society and their Youth Research Academy, will share the modules with GSAs and community organizations throughout British Columbia. We will then use surveys with participants over time to evaluate their effectiveness with young people, and then measure community-wide shifts using the next BC Adolescent Health Survey in 2023. We also have the opportunity to study potential implementation challenges by interviewing educators and community centre staff.

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