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Thorne Harbour Health's Counselling Service is free specialist service for our LGBTIQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Gender Diverse, Intersex, Queer) communities.

Our counselling service runs therapeutic groups to address the continuing challenges of the living with HIV and the needs of the LGBTI community.How the Groups WorkThe groups are:Facilitated by professional counsellors or psychotherapistsHeld weekly and run for six to ten weeks. Group members agree to attend all sessionsSometimes focused on particular themes, such as anxiety or living with HIV so you can get help with particular issuesA group approach:Can help you change unhelpful thoughts or behavioursWork with other group members to develop a stronger sense of selfProvides a safe and confidential spaceYou may feel anxious and uncomfortable about joining a group and talking about yourself. However, our facilitators are trained to monitor, give feedback, and help the group work through difficult issues. Group members often feel supported by the others in the group, and gain strength from knowing that there are others going through similar issues.Please select the group you are interested in below:

Stigma is a tricky beast and an all too familiar one for men experiencing anxiety and/or depression. It gets even more complicated when you add the stigma associated with being same-sex attracted while in a heterosexual lifestyle. DALE aims to reduce this complex stigma and improve the overall health and wellbeing of these men.

Thorne Harbour Country provides support, counselling, rapid HIV testing, resources and information around LGBTIQ+ wellbeing, HIV, Hepatitis C and sexual health across the Loddon Mallee. Operating out of the Community Hub, Thorne Harbour Country provides a safe place for the LGBTIQ+ community to connect and access information resources and referral services.

For over 17 years and 800 episodes, Well, Well, Well has been broadcasting on JOY 94.9 - Australia's out and proud community radio station. On air every Thursday night from 9PM, Well, Well, Well focuses on health and wellbeing issues affecting our LGBTI and PLHIV communities.

Thorne Harbour Health and Rainbow Health Victoria are calling on Victoria’s LGBTI communities to take action and have their voice heard during the Royal Commission into Mental Health. In addition to the community consultations already underway, earlier today the Victorian Government unveiled their online portal for community submissions to the Royal Commission into Mental Health.Thorne Harbour Health (formerly the Victorian AIDS Council) and Rainbow Health Victoria (formerly Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria) have developed consumer talking points to assist LGBTI individuals attending community consultations or making submissions via the government’s online portal. The new resource developed by the two organisations outlines recommendations for action as well as the background research to support each area for improving Victoria’s mental health system. Recommendations outlined in the document include building upon the existing model to increase accessibility to community-controlled services as well as workforce development for mainstream services to ensure there is “no wrong door” for LGBTI Victorians to access the support they need to improve their mental health and wellbeing.“With higher rates of depression, anxiety, substance abuse, self-harm, and suicide compared to the general population, LGBTI Victorians need a mental health system that is welcoming and responsive to their needs. It’s vital that our voices are heard,” said Thorne Harbour Health CEO Simon Ruth.“We’ll only get our needs met if the government hears from us. If our communities are silent on this issue, we’ll never see progress.”Rainbow Health Victoria’s Co-Director Dr Jen Power added, “It’s important that LGBTI communities are equipped with the research evidence to support what many of them already know — that LGBTI Australians are experiencing poor mental health outcomes, often associated with marginalisation, discrimination, stigma, violence, and abuse.”Community consultation sessions are being held at various locations now through May, and registration closes at 5pm on the day before each consultation session. A full list of community consultations can be found at: rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/whats-happening-now.Through the online portal (rcvmhs.vic.gov.au/submissions), people can submit formal submissions and brief comments. Brief comments will be accepted until 20 May 2019 and formal submissions will be accepted until 5 July 2019.The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System – Consumer Talking Points document can be downloaded here.---If you or someone you know requires support, contact Switchboard on 1800 184 527 (3pm-12am daily) or for Thorne Harbour Counselling Services, contact us on (03) 9865 6700 (9am-5pm daily).For urgent assistance, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 224 636.

The poor mental health outcomes of LGBTIQ+ Victorians comes at an economic and financial cost estimated to be as high as $3 billion in research released today.Commissioned by Thorne Harbour Health, the report findings from Deloitte show the rate of lifetime mental health for LGBTIQ+ Victorians is 73%, significantly higher than the 46% among the general population.LGBTIQ+ Victorians are estimated to make up to 10% of the state’s population and their mental health outcomes are driven by a complex set of factors including systemic discrimination and marginalisation within society and the health system more broadly.“When you look at the rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide, the message is clear - LGBTIQ mental health is in crisis,” said Thorne Harbour Health CEO Simon Ruth.