Mental health and its drivers in lesbian, bisexual and queer-identifying women at a South African higher education institution: a qualitative study
This study describes experiences of poor mental health of sexual minority women students in South Africa. Mental health promotion interventions for campus environments, including approaches that build self-acceptance and foster social support, are urgently needed to address drivers of poor mental health. This should include multicomponent psychoeducational interventions that affirm gender and sexuality, promote mental health literacy and self-acceptance and enhance healthy coping strategies and resilience.
Authors
- Pinky Mahlangu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2094-942X)
- Carrie Brooke‐Sumner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9489-8717)
- Ntlotleng Mabena
- Yandisa Sikweyiya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7153-5828)
- Mercilene Machisa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7275-1100)
- Managa Pillay
- Kristin Dunkle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3071-5544)
- Nelisiwe Khuzwayo (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5221-1473)
- Rachel Jewkes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4330-6267)
- Sinegugu Evidence Duma (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2489-8770)
- Elizabeth Dartnall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5239-8741)
Institutions
- South African Medical Research Council (ZA)
- Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (CH)
- Emory University (US)
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- Sexual Health Clinic (FI)
- South African National AIDS Council (ZA)
- University of Pretoria (ZA)
- University of KwaZulu-Natal (ZA)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BMC Global and Public Health
- Published
- 2025-09-02
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s44263-025-00195-1
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 2.44
Funders
- South African Medical Research Council
- Medical Research Council