Grant: Tr. Gr: HRTP - Stigma Reduction and Mental Wellness for LGBTQ2 Populations

We propose the development of a comprehensive training and mentorship platform focused on community-based interventions to support the health of 2SLGBTQ+ populations across the lifecourse. The S2LGBTQ+ Health Hub will become a national program for training, mentorship, and capacity-building for early career researchers, trainees, healthcare professionals, government, and community-based stakeholders. Our proposal brings together a network of 50 leading scholars, health professionals, and community leaders from across Canada. This innovative and sustainable Hub advances opportunities for asynchronous and synchronous learning and skill development. The Hub's learning environment will include an accessible e-platform focused on building capacity in the determinants of health necessary to support the wellbeing of diverse 2SLGBTQ+ communities, including stigma reduction programs and health promoting interventions with and for Indigenous, Black, and other People of Colour queer communities. Through our training and mentorship activities, the 2SLGBTQ+ Health Hub will lead to the promotion of a greater understanding of emerging implementation research and knowledge exchange strategies, including community-based and intersectional approaches to stigma reduction and integrated knowledge translation. We will run an annual fellowship program-cohort of ~30 fellows per year across sectors-including mentorship activities, online modules and seminars, an experiential learning opportunity (applying theory to practice), and a 2-day training summit. Modules developed for the 2SLGBTQ+ Health Hub will also be openly accessible for other interested users across Canada. This work requires a commitment to equity-focused, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and intersectional training and co-learning. All aspects of our Hub, including our organizational structure and the development and evaluation of our platform, are informed by best practices in equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility.