Efficacy of a Brief Intervention to Improve Sexual and Gender Minorities' Mental Health: Randomized Controlled Trial.

Efficacy of a Brief, Self-guided, On-line, Writing Intervention to Improve Mental Health Outcomes Among Sexual and Gender Minorities: a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Experiences of violence, from micro to physical aggressions, have a deleterious impact on mental health. According to the Minority Stress Theory, unfavorable social conditions (such as anticipated and experienced discrimination and internalized homophobia), mediated by resilience strategies, can lead to mental health or illness. Sexual and gender minorities (SGM) face stigma and discrimination aggravating multiple aspects of their lives: from school drop-out to halting health care access. SGM reveal avoiding medical assistance for fear of discrimination while health professionals disclose feeling unprepared to handle SGM health needs. There are two main challenges: 1) developing specific psychological interventions to reduce the impact of stigma and discrimination on SGM' mental health; and 2) training public health professionals to properly address SGM needs. Therefore, the present trial aims to assess the efficacy of a brief, self-guided, on-line, asynchronous and unsupervised psychological intervention in improving SGM' mental health.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Self-identity as sexual and gender minority.
• Being older than 16 years old.
• Have a stable on-line connection for, at least, 20 minutes in a place where won't be disturbed.
• Reports, in the baseline survey, previous experiences of discrimination, having depression or anxiety symptoms.
• Currently living in Rio Grande do Sul.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Disagrees with the consent form.