The EQUICARES project is a major European research initiative funded through the EU Horizon programme. It aims to better understand the real-life barriers people face when trying to access mental health and care services, and to identify ways to build more inclusive, effective, and equitable systems across Europe.
As part of the Irish strand of the research, LGBT Ireland and University College Dublin are focusing specifically on the experiences of LGBTQI+ people when accessing or attempting to access mental health supports in Ireland. The findings will help highlight gaps, inequalities, and opportunities for improvement within existing services.
The project also aligns with Recommendation 61 of Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy, which emphasises the importance of delivering diverse and culturally competent mental health supports across all services.
Participation involves completing an anonymous online survey about personal experiences of mental health services in Ireland. All responses will be treated confidentially, and no identifying information will be published. The collected data will inform a European report due to be published in 2026, with findings shared back with communities and stakeholders.
Participants must:
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Be aged 18 or over
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Live in Ireland
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Have tried to access mental health services at some point in their life
Those who wish to participate can complete the survey online at:
https://erasmusuniversity.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5btF3mpYE4MehGm
More information about the project is available at:
https://lgbt.ie/equicares/
and https://equicares-project.eu
The EQUICARES project – Community-driven Healthcare Access and Mental Health Promotion for Inclusive, Equitable, and Resilient European Societies – brings together research, co-creation, and policy development across seven countries. The project uses innovative methods to map inequalities, design practical solutions with communities, and support long-term improvements in mental health access across Europe.
This research is being carried out by LGBT Ireland and University College Dublin as part of the EQUICARES European consortium.
Project contact:
Dr Mira Fey, LGBT Ireland / University College Dublin
Email: [email protected]