Nyyti's project QueerMieli promoting LGBTQIA+ students mental health has started!

QueerMieli is Nyyti's three-year project (2024-2026), aiming at supporting the psychological well-being of LGBTQIA+ students, increasing awareness of the consequences of minority stress and, together with the university communities, finding ways to improve accessibility for LGBTQIA+ people. 

Minority stress refers to a continuous state of stress among people who belong to minorities, which can have a negative impact on both physical and mental health. Minority stress among LGBTIQA+ people is caused, for example, by discrimination or fear thereof, as well as the feeling of being different, due to exclusionary structures or assumptions in the environment.

The QueerMieli project offers peer support group activities intended for students within higher education, who identify as LGBTQIA+ or are pondering about their identity. The goal of the groups, meeting online, is to find ways to support mental well-being and deal with experiences of minority stress. The group activities are in Finnish. More information about the groups and the registration link can be found here: QueerMieli vertaisryhmät - Nyyti ry. 

During the autumn of 2024, there will also be a group meeting live, and in Finnish, in the premises of the University of Helsinki. The theme of this group is LGBTIQA+ students' experiences of loneliness. More information about it will come later in the autumn, stay tuned! 

The project will also offer training for staff within higher education and student health service as well as for active members of the student organizations. The goal is to increase awareness of minority stress and its impact on health and offer tools to promote equality and the sense belonging. 

The University of Helsinki is a partner in the project. You can find more information at queermieli.fi.

Project employees can be met for queer coffee on Tuesday 10.9. at 16-17.30 at Kaisa House Guidance Corner!