The delivery of technology-mediated affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy groups to LGBTQ+ youth during a pandemic: A practice innovation

AFFIRM
Written By INQYR

Craig, S. L., Iacono, G., & Pascoe, R. (2020). The delivery of technology-mediated affirmative cognitive behavioural therapy groups to LGBTQ+ youth during a pandemic: A practice innovation. Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, 39(3), 79–83. https://doi.org/10.7870/cjcmh-2020-020

Highlights

Background

The rapid onset of the COVID-19 pandemic across Canada has contributed to a crisis in mental health services.

Most LGBTQ+ youth are presently unable to access crucial mental health supports due to the paucity of empirically based virtual supports for this population

Study Description

  • This article describes how we adapted and virtually delivered AFFIRM (an empirically based affirmative CBT intervention) to LGBTQ+ youth as a rapid response to their exacerbated mental health vulnerabilities due to COVID-19

  • We provide key strategies for implementation gleaned through an emergent pilot project

Study Themes:

  • Leveraging technology: We took steps to determine that Zoom would be the most suitable online platform for our intervention

  • Engaging effectively: We developed and used strategies to engage youth, including participation through chat and emojis

  • Facilitating groupwork: e.g.,, We used Zoom’s screen-sharing to engage the group in workbook activities (in fillable PDF form)

Key Findings

In the short-term, LGBTQ+ youth who were experiencing isolation received immediate benefits, which we expect will support overall mental health and potentially interrupt other negative outcomes.

 
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