Context & Challenge
There are few specific treatment programs designed specifically to support same-sex attracted men (SSM) exist in Australia. To help address this gap, a clinical treatment program (‘The Program’) addressing diverse mental health challenges and additional health epidemics facing SSM, originally designed and developed by researchers and academics at Yale University in the USA, was redesigned for the Australian context and Australian SSM.
Strategy & Execution
David led the redesign, implementation, and research program and measurement of The Program. Through consultation with professionals and lived- and living-experience mental health consumers, The Program was adapted to suit the needs of Australian SSM.
Adaptations included (i) delivering The Program in a group format in order to normalise experiences, introduce diverse perspectives, and decrease loneliness and isolation, (ii) elements of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), including values and committed action exercises, (iii) self-compassion exercises, and (iv) inner child exercises.
Results & Impact
The adapted Program was delivered to Australian SSM across four separate groups and a comprehensive research program was established to measure its effectiveness. The published scientific article can he found here. In summary, The Program was found to significantly decrease depressive-, anxiety-, and stress-related symptoms for participants. The results also demonstrated the program was positively received by participants, with the interpersonal learning, validation, minority stress education, ACT- and self-compassion-based components, and group structure being reported as important for perceived effectiveness.
Learn more here.
