About SEEN
Background
Percent of youth who have attempted suicide:
LGBTQ+ youth of color experience heightened mental health challenges compared to white LGBTQ+ youth and non-LGBTQ+ youth. They are also less likely to have access to mental health treatment. This leaves gaps to be filled in supporting the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth of color.
LGBTQ+ Youth of Color Experience Heightened Mental Health Disparities compared to their cisgender White peers.
The Study
We designed SEEN: Sexual and Gender Minority Emerging Adults Eliciting Narratives to explore whether creative narratives (Photographs or Videos) could impact mental health of LGBTQ+ youth of color.
​
19 Participants (between the ages of 18-24) across the U.S. created narratives answering two prompts:
​
-
Share an experience of when you have felt SEEN as an LGBTQ+ person of color in the U.S.
-
Share an experience of when you have felt UNSEEN as an LGBTQ+ person of color in the U.S.
The Results
Mental health measures were collected before and after the art creation process. We found that:
Anxiety & depression decreased
While
psychological wellbeing increased
Participants had some great things to say about their experience
I think it's a really meaningful way to reflect on your positionality, to reflect on the spaces that you are a part of and the ways that you feel... I think it's very rewarding.
"
"
The Researcher
Dr. Jennifer Tran, PhD (she/her/hers)
Eidos Postdoctoral Fellow
PhD Behavioral and Community Sciences
MEd Counseling and Development​
Dr. Tran's work focuses on addressing sexual orientation and gender identity-related mental health disparities experienced by individuals within intersections of multiple marginalized identities.
Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative
SEEN was supported and funded by Eidos LGBTQ+ Health Initiative Housed in the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania
​