Healthy Relationships Program for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (2S/LGBTQIA+) Youth


The Healthy Relationships Program (HRP) for Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Intersex, and Asexual + (2S/LGBTQIA+) Youth
is a small group positive mental health promotion program.

HRP helps build resiliency and promote well-being among 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. It affirms, validates, and celebrates sexual, gender, romantic, and sex characteristic diversity, cultivates a caring and supportive community, and helps 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth develop skills and strategies that promote healthy relationships.

This trauma-informed, equity-infused, strengths-focused and skill-building program explores stressors unique to 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth, including identity and expression invalidation, stigma, prejudice and discrimination, internalized oppression, coming out, safety, and microaggressions.

HRP for 2S/LGBTQIA+ Youth is a modular program that includes 17 sessions, each lasting approximately 45 minutes, and affords flexibility about which sessions may be delivered based on youth voice and choice. It may be implemented in Gender and Sexuality Alliances (GSA) or 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth group settings. Research indicates that youth enjoy the program and benefit from the skills they learn, as well as the connections they make with others (Lapointe & Crooks, 2018).


Program Information

Program Poster

Program Overview

Program Frequently Asked Questions

Learn More about the Program (Video)

Research

Publications

Presentations

Land Acknowledgement and Anti-Colonial Programming Commitment

The Centre for School Mental Health, Western University, is located on lands connected with the London Township and Sombra Treaties of 1796 and the Dish with One Spoon Covenant Wampum. This geographic region was originally cared for by the Anishinaabek, Haudenosaunee, Lūnaapéewak, and Chonnonton peoples. Chippewa of the Thames First Nation (part of the Anishinaabe); Oneida Nation of the Thames (part of the Haudenosaunee); and Munsee-Delaware Nation (part of the Leni-Lunaape) are proximal Indigenous communities in this area. The Centre wishes to recognize and celebrate traditional and contemporary Indigenous peoples’ knowledges and contributions on Treaty 6 and 7 land. We call on settlers who utilize this resource to learn about regional treaties, original peoples, and histories in their area and infuse traditional ways of knowing and being into their youth programming.