Digital Mental Health and Identity Affirmation Tool for LGBTQ+ Youth [website]

LGBTQ+ youth are facing a growing mental health crisis. To help LGBTQ+ youth counteract the negative influence of discrimination and oppression, ‍Hopelab, in collaboration with CenterLink, and It Gets Better Project, created imi, a free, digital, research-backed, mental health and identity affirmation tool.

imi, (pronounced eye-me) helps LGBTQ+ youth explore and affirm their identity and learn practical approaches to cope with sexual and gender minority stress in ways that are supportive, relevant, inclusive, and joyful.

The web app provides affirming resources, activities, and stories of lived experiences from LGBTQ+ youth on important topics like stress, LGBTQ+ identity, internalized stigma, and gender identity and expression.

More about imi

imi includes four guides: stress, stigma, gender, and queerness. Each guide contains three sections containing various types of interactive content.

imi users can also explore LGBTQ+ curated resources that include an LGBTQ+ resource list, crisis resources, a database of LGBTQ+ Centers, safe browsing tips, and EduGuide lessons for educators and facilitators who work with LGBTQ+ youth.

imi is built on a foundation of the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ youth and in partnership with LGBTQ+ youth organizations, academic/research partners and community/product developers.

Check out our presentation to learn how you can be an ally and advocate for all youth as they navigate their path towards self-identity and independence.

While imi is not a crisis tool, nor is it designed to help teens cope with suicidal thoughts, early data suggests that the interventions delivered through imi can boost positive coping skills and mindsets, which are critical supports for LGBTQ+ mental health over the long run.

See the full study on imi’s efficacy, or learn more about the significance of the research results.

Hopelab is a social innovation lab and impact investor at the intersection of tech and youth mental health. Learn more about Hopelab and their work.