LGBTI+ mental health in Europe: Needs, challenges, and opportunities

A webinar by the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities

To celebrate the beginning of Pride Month, the EPA is pleased to announce this webinar on “LGBTI+ mental health in Europe: Needs, challenges, and opportunities”, taking place on Tuesday, 3 June 2025, from 16:30 to 18:00 CEST. This webinar is organised by the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities.

Webinar Overview

This webinar aims to highlight the mental healthcare needs of LGBTI+ individuals in Europe, as well as the responsibilities and challenges faced by mental healthcare professionals. Moderated by Götz Mundle and Lieselotte Mahler (Germany), the Section Chair and Co-chair, the webinar will feature expert presentations and discussions.

Richard Bränström (Sweden) will present research findings on the significant variations in health and wellbeing among sexual and gender minority individuals across different regions of Europe. He will also summarize current research on the impact of stigma and minority stress on the mental health and wellbeing of these communities.

Iva Zegura (Croatia) will explore the challenges mental healthcare professionals encounter, including the rising demand for care, which acts as a barrier to LGBTI+ healthcare and poses difficulties for psychiatrists.

Koray Başar (Türkiye) will provide a brief overview of models explaining the effects of stigma on mental health, along with the key components of strength and resilience in LGBTI+ individuals. This talk will be followed by a discussion on the role of mental healthcare professionals (both as individuals and within organizations) in safeguarding and enhancing the health and wellbeing of LGBTI+ individuals in Europe.

Following three consecutive 20-minute presentations, the session will conclude with a Q&A discussion led by the moderators.

Click here to register

Key learning objectives:

Raising awareness of health inequalities affecting sexual and gender minorities in Europe and the stigma and discrimination they face.
Understanding the challenges of providing mental healthcare to LGBTI+ individuals and learning strategies to develop and demonstrate competency in varying socio-political contexts.
Defining the role and responsibilities of mental healthcare professionals (both in clinical practice and within professional organisations) in promoting and protecting the health of LGBTI+ individuals.

MODERATORS

Götz Mundle, Chair of the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities, Associate Professor, MD, University Tübingen, Clinical Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Mental Health Center for Refugees, Berlin, Germany – Biography
Lieselotte Mahler, Co-Chair of the EPA Section on Sexual Orientations and Gender Identities, MD, Clinical Psychiatrist and Psychotherapist, Head of the Department Psychiatry und Psychotherapy, Theodor-Wenzel-Werk, Berlin, Germany – Biography

Speakers

Koray Başar, Associate Professor, MD, Department of Psychiatry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Türkiye – Biography
Richard Bränström, Associate Professor, PhD, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockhom, Sweden – Biography
Iva Žegura, Univ. Spec. Clin. Psych., Mag. Psych., MA. University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapce, Zagreb, Croatia – Biography

Webinar details

Title: Mental Healthcare Needs of LGBTI+ Individuals in Europe
Date: Tuesday 3 June 2025
Provisional time: 16:30 – 18:00 CEST

Provisional programme

16:30 – 16:35 | Götz Mundle – Welcome and introduction
16:35 – 16:40 | Lieselotte Mahler – Context and presentation of the speakers
16:40 – 17:00 | Richard Bränström – Presentation: “Health and wellbeing among sexual and gender minority individuals across different regions of Europe”
17:00 – 17:20 | Iva Zegura – Presentation: “The challenges and barriers to affirmative LGBTIQ+ mental health care in Europe”
17:20 – 17:40 | Koray Başar – Presentation “Opportunities for psychiatrists in overcoming challenges to LGBTI+ mental health”
17:40 – 17:55 | Q&A and discussion
17:55 – 18:00 | Götz Mundle & Lieselotte Mahler – Wrap-up and conclusions