LGBTI+ Life in Lockdown - Snapshot Survey Findings - #NXF40 1979-2019
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LGBTI+
Life in Lockdown
Snapshot Survey Findings
#NXF40 1979—2019
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieForeword
The Covid-19 Pandemic has caused incredible hurt, The LGBTI+ Community already As LGBTI+ people we rely on our
endures the injustice of discrimination community spaces, our connections
damage and loss across all aspects of society around and inequality, and we can see to each other, and our ability to take
the world. There isn’t a single person or community from this snapshot survey that the pride in our identities together. We
pandemic and lockdown has hit our have suffered so many different forms
untouched by this dreadful disease. While everyone community much harder. Isolation, of loss throughout this pandemic, and
has felt the impact, we know that some communities loneliness, and loss are words we hear for many it is difficult to see the end
are hit worse than others, whether by the virus itself from callers to our LGBT Helpline all the in sight.
time, even before the pandemic hit,
or by its knock on effects. and now we see these words repeated
But we need everyone to know that
their community is still here. We see
in this survey at an even greater level.
new ways of connecting virtually,
When we look at the voices members coming up with clever ways
represented here of LGBTI+ people who to stay connected, and a pride of spirit
are additionally marginalised including that will guide us through this. And no
LGBTI+ migrants, Traveller and Roma, matter what position you find yourself
refugees, older, living with a long- in, your LGBTI+ Support Services are
term disability, or other intersectional here, just pick up the phone, start a
identities, we see that they have been chat, reach out.
the most impacted amongst us.
Paula Fagan
CEO of LGBT Ireland
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieA message from NXF Introduction to The Survey
The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a rapid and profound impact on The Life in Lockdown Snapshot Survey was conducted between
the way we perceive the world and our everyday lives. The impact the 2nd and the 18th of September 2020.
of the disease, and of the measures taken to contain it across all
There was significant effort made to The survey investigated a range
sections of society, are as yet unclear. The National LGBT Federation
ensure that the survey was promoted of impacts of the first COVID-19
is proud to have been involved in this early engagement with our widely . We aimed to recruit a sample lockdown including mental health,
LGBT+ community to hear the voices of people from across the that was as representative of our physical health, home life, work,
community and country. community as possible in terms of age, and community, as well as looking
identity, geographic location, minority at awareness of LGBTI+ Services,
Caroline Keane, We are grateful to the people who and socio-economic status. We believe particularly those offered by LGBT
Chairperson, NXF. shared their perspectives on how this the survey is representative of the Ireland.
global health crisis has affected their diverse background of our community.
In total, there were 1855
physical and mental health, how the We are pleased that it includes the
responses to the survey.
sudden social isolation has impacted perspectives and voices of the broad
their lives and relationships and how range of LGBTI+ people in Ireland.
the situation has further exacerbated
existing inequalities. The insights
TOTAL RESPONSES
1855
from this research will help to design
the support and educational services
provided by the vital LGBT+ groups
helping our communities. Thank you to
LGBT Ireland for directing this research
and to everyone who coordinated and
took part.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieWhat we learned Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie
01. Impacts on Mental Health
We asked participants whether they This impact was significantly higher
Loneliness
felt their mental health had improved, for members of our community
declined or stayed the same during who also have a long-term illness
lockdown. One of the most striking or disability, with 80% suffering
Isolation
observations from the Survey showed a decline in their mental health.
that 62% of people reported a decline Other marginalised members of our
in their mental health, substantially community, including Older People
Sadness
higher than the 51% impact in the (64% reported a decline), Travellers
general population (85% reported a decline) and Asylum In analysing the commentary
Seekers and Refugees (90% reported made on the experience of the
Anxiety
Footnote: Mental Health Reforms Responding to a decline) faced additional mental
the Mental Health Impact of Covid-19 Survey.
height of lockdown, the most
health challenges. common themes were
&in a number of cases
62% LGBT Community Anger .
51% General Population
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie“
Very difficult when the world suddenly shrunk
to a size where feelings of isolation and
loneliness were amplified greatly. Face-to-face
interactions were withdrawn along with the
ability to hug and be in physical contact with
others. That was extremely difficult.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie“
I felt lonely, isolated,
and with the cancelling
of events such as Pride
very cut off from my “
community. I felt lonely.
Suddenly everything
was closed, people didn’t
really communicate and
there was no one to hug me.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieDrank More Drank Less No Change
Online only
Respondents
02. Impacts
Engagement
46.3%on Physical Health, Wellbeing and
62%Home Life LGBT Community
No Engagement
31.9% 51% General Population
We asked participants whether they For those who were previously involved Of the 482 respondents who were
felt their physical health had improved, 21.8%
in LGBTI+ Sporting, Recreational or smokers, 60.6% smoked more often,
declined or stayed the same during Wellbeing Groups (318 respondents), 20.7% smoked less often, and the
lockdown. 41.1% of respondents noted
a decline in their physical health during
56.9% weren’t able to engage with
these groups at all during Lockdown,
others remained the same. 62% LGBT Community
28.3% of respondents expressed
the period of lockdown.
Drank More
while 34.6% were able to engage
Drank Less and No Change
Smoking
More 60.6% 51% General Population
that they were either Uncomfortable
virtually 8.5% were still able to
or Very Uncomfortable expressing
engage directly. Smoking
Less 20.7% their LGBTI+ Identity in their home
Online only environment.
Respondents
Lower Levels No Change
Smoking of Interaction
Engagement More 60.6%
Of the 1453 respondents who drank
Smoking46.3% stated they drank more
alcohol,
No Engagement Less 20.7%
or more often, 31.9% less or less often,
and46.3%
21.8% did not change their drinking
behaviours.
31.9%
46.3% 21.8%
“ 31.9%
I’m single, live alone, I had 21.8%
Covid 19, was quite ill. It Drank More Drank Less No Change
was frightening and lonely. Drank More
Online only
Drank Less No Change
ndents
Life in Lockdown
Engagement LGBT.ie
Online only
nts“
I and other LGBT+ people often do not receive
support from our families of origin and due
to covid my friends were not able to
travel to see me for months.
I felt extremely isolated and alone.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieOnline only
Respondents
Engagement
03. LGBTI+ Community and Support Services
No Engagement
There was a significant impact on the When questioned on their awareness
ability of LGBTI+ People to interact of LGBTI+ Support Services, 62.1%
with their community, with 60.2% noted that they were aware of
reporting lower levels of interaction. LGBT Ireland with 31.2% aware of
This was echoed in the sentiments local LGBTI+ Resources*, however
expressed in the commentary, with
many noting the particular difficulty
only 9.3% of respondents said they
reached out to LGBTI+ Support “
of not being able to engage with Pride Services during this time. Our queer spaces aren’t
celebrations this year.
open so it is difficult to feel
like we belong especially in
rural areas
Lower Levels No Change
of Interaction
*Given that the survey was disseminated through social media channels related to LGBTI+
organisations, the profile of respondents are more likely to include those who were already aware
of LGBT Ireland and other support services. Therefore, the level of awareness of LGBTI+ Support
Services is likely to be much lower.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie“
Lockdown made me feel lonely and a little bit
more stressed due to not being able to be me as
I am not out yet to family, whereas with friends
I can be me.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie04. New Ways of Connecting Recommendations
Despite the difficult realities,
respondents gave messages of hope
and new ideas on how individuals and
LGBTI+ Support services can make the
A strong recommendation from many
people was to find out what LGBTI+
services are available and what online
groups and events they may have
01 Recognise the additional
challenges faced by members
of the LGBTI+ community during
impact of the pandemic easier. happening. Many had presumed that
this unprecedented crisis.
02
services had stopped, but when they
The value of online spaces was LGBTI+ services need to be properly
looked into it they discovered that
remarked on heavily, with many noting
that while they didn’t expect to enjoy
most had made a transition online. resourced and promoted, so that
Once they engaged with these groups,
online interaction they found it to be
events and opportunities, they had a those who need them can be
an incredibly valuable and worthwhile
way of keeping in contact with their
positive impact on their wellbeing. informed and have access. Funding
community, and even finding new models must be reassessed and
friends in new places. restructured to help services deal
with this crisis and the mental health
05. Recommendations issues that will arise as a result.
It is critical that we take the learning
from this survey in order to improve
approaches to the health and wellbeing
restrictions that may come in
future. Now, more than ever strategic
investment in the right services
03 Ringfenced funding must be
allocated for members of the
LGBTI+ community who suffer
of LGBTI+ People across Ireland, is critical, and we are calling on intersectional discrimination.
particularly in light of new restrictions decision makers to implement Particularly in the health
and other periods of tightened these recommendations. services sector.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ie06. Find Support Near You
LGBT Ireland NORTHEAST SUPPORT SERVICES WEST SUPPORT SERVICES TEACHERS SUPPORTS
National LGBT Helpline: Outcomers (Dundalk) AMACH! LGBT+ / Teach Solais INTO LGBT+ Group
1890 929 539
www.outcomers.org amachlgbt.com (Galway) www.into.ie
www.LGBT.ie
Outhouse (Dublin) OutWest (West of Ireland) ShoutOut
NATIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES www.outhouse.ie www.outwest.ie www.shoutout.ie
BeLonG To
www.belongto.org
SOUTH SUPPORT SERVICES SOCIAL AND SPORT
The Gay Project (Cork) ScEEN in Kerry
Bi+ Ireland www.gayproject.ie www.sceeninkerry.com
www.biireland.com
LINC (Cork) Sporting Pride
HIV Ireland www.linc.ie www.sportingpride.ie
www.hivireland.ie
Gender Orientation
TENI Sexual Health HIV (Limerick)
Transgender Equality Network Ireland www.goshh.ie
www.teni.ie This is not an exhaustive list of services.
Life in Lockdown LGBT.ieThank You.
#NXF40 1979—2019
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