The mental health issues of LGBTIQ+ individuals working in the UN are being compounded and magnified during COVID-19, in particular for LGBTIQ+ people working in duty stations in countries that criminalise LGBTIQ+ people, and LGBTIQ+ people who are in isolation with homophobic, lesbophobic, biphobic or transphobic household members or with an abusive or violent partner. Additionally, the mental health services and advice offered by our employers are not tailored for LGBTIQ+ personnel of the UN and therefore often fall short in meeting our needs. These uncertain and challenging times with this crisis have necessitated a discussion about how we can better support our mental wellbeing. UN GLOBE recognises that during this global crisis, being seen and heard are two of the most powerful human needs, particularly for LGBTIQ+ people. To support LGBTIQ+ people in the UN System, UN GLOBE organised two global webinars on mental health, titled “Seen*, heard and equipped; LGBTIQ+ Mental Health & COVID-19.”

*UN GLOBE recognises that during this global crisis, being seen and heard are two of the most powerful human needs, particularly for LGBTIQ+ people. That said, the confidentiality and anonymity of all members will be fully respected and guaranteed during these webinars. When registering, you can choose to provide a pseudonym and share your questions or issues to the panellists via the moderator. 

Session 1: Emotional First Aid, Mental Health First Aid and Well-being 

The session explored how to conduct a self-assessment of emotions, and how to manage those emotions through positive psychology whilst paying attention to triggers.

Date: 
Tuesday 21 April 2020 

Speakers: 
Deepak Kashyap (He/Him)
Simon Blake (He/Him) 

About the panelists

Deepak Kashyap (He/Him) is a counselling therapist and life skills, trainer. He provides emotional and mental health services in person and online for over 10 years. He holds a master’s degree in the Psychology of Education from the University of Bristol, UK. He has been formally trained in advanced programs in REBT and CBT from the Albert Ellis Institute in New York and attended the MBCT summer school program at the Oxford Mindfulness Centre at the University of Oxford, England.  

He has conducted workshops in India, Dubai, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Canada on various emotional wellbeing projects. His expertise lies in developing and delivering programs for corporate mental health initiatives, Diversity and Inclusion training and LGBTQ2S+ leadership and rights activism. Deepak has developed and delivered programs like Employee Emotional First-aid, Unconscious Bias, Safe and Respectful Work Environment, Effective Vs Performative Allyship, Making Workplaces more Welcoming of the Queer Employees Beyond Just the Pride Month, Emotional Skills for Feminism, Distinctions between Social Justice Warriors/Workers, Squaring Up Meritocracy and Privilege Myths and many such seminal pieces for workplace safety and equity. 

He is a published columnist in national newspapers and magazines and writes about issues related to sex, mental health, relationships, and emotional disturbances. He has appeared on various national and international news channels, talk shows, and debates, radio and newspapers, discussing emotional health and sexuality issues. Deepak is a member of the Ontario Association of Mental Health Practitioners (OAMHP) and Canadian Counselling and Psychotherapy Association (CCPA). 

Simon Blake (OBE) (He/Him): Simon Blake is CEO of Mental Health First Aid England, a social enterprise with a vision to improve the mental health of the nation (www.MHFAEngland.org). He is also deputy chair of Stonewall, the leading LGBT Charity in the UK. For his wellbeing Simon has a dog, called Dolly named after Dolly Parton, and a horse called Boris, named after nobody famous. Twitter @simonablake Insta @simonatmhfae