Lesbians, gay men and bisexuals and mental health: Further reading and Useful contacts

Further reading

Useful contacts

Further reading

Biography and fiction

Bauer, M.D. ed. 1994, Am I blue? Coming out from the silence, Harper Collins.
Dorcey, M. 1989, A noise from the woodshed, Onlywomen Press.
Evans, D. 1993, A cat in the tulips, Millivres Books.
Ireland, T. 1992, A time to burn, Gay Men's Press.
Kerr, M. E. 1995, Deliver us from Evie, Viking.
Kureishi, H. 1986, My beautiful launderette, Faber and Faber.
Livia, A. 1990, Saccharin cyanide, Onlywomen Press.
Lorde, A. 1980, The cancer journals, Aunt Lute Books.
Lorde, A. 1982, Zami: a new spelling of my name, Pandora.
Lorde, A. 1984, Sister outsider, The Crossing Press.
Lorde, A. 1988, A burst of light, Sheba Feminist Publishers.
Nestle, J. and Horloch, N. (eds). 1990, Women on women, Plume.
Nestle, J. and Horloch, N. (eds). 1993, Women on women 2, Plume.
Rees, D. 1988, Flux, Third House Publications.
Rees, D. and Robins, P. (eds). 1987, Twos and threes, Third House Publications.
White, E. 1988, The beautiful room is empty, Picador.
Winterson, J. 1985, Oranges are not the only fruit, Vintage.

Bisexuality

George, S. 1993, Women and bisexuality, Scarlet Press.
Hutchins and Kaahumanu (eds). 1991, Bi any other name, Alyson.
Rose, S. and Stevens, C. et al (eds). 1995, Bisexual horizons: politics, histories and lives, Lawrence and Wishart.

Black lesbians, gay men and bisexuals

Burgess, M. 19 January 1988, 'Why we're proud to be gay', Voice, p.18-19.
Mason-John, V. and Khambatta, A. 1993, Making black waves, Scarlet Press.
Mason-John, V. 1995, Talking black: lesbians of African and Asian descent speak out, Cassell.

Discrimination and gay and lesbian rights

Tatchell, P. 1990, Out in Europe: a guide to lesbian and gay rights in 30 European countries, Channel 4.

Gay and lesbian youth

Lesbian Information Service 1995, Working with lesbian and gay youth – a resource list.

Lesbian and gay parents

Lesbian Information Service 1995, Lesbians who are mothers: a resource list.
Rights of Women Lesbian Custody Group. 1986, Lesbian mothers legal handbook, Women's Press.

Parents and families of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals

Dickens, J. (ed). 1996, Family outing: a guide for parents of gays, lesbians and bisexuals, Peter Owen Publishers.
Lesbian Information Service. 1995, Parents of lesbians and gays: a resource list.

Psychology, psychoanalysis and psychiatry

Bridget, J. 1995, Lesbians, mental health and therapy: a resource list, Lesbian Information Service.
Davies, D. and Neal, C. 1996, Pink therapy: a guide for counsellors working with lesbian, gay and bisexual clients, Open University Press.
Greene, B. and Herek, G.M. (eds). 1994, Lesbian and gay psychology: theory, research and clinical applications, Volume 1, Sage Publications.
Golding, J. 1997, Without prejudice: Mind lesbian, gay and bisexual mental health awareness research, Mind.
Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry 2000, Homosexuality and the mental health professions: the impact of bias, Analytic Press.
Hellman, R. E. M. D. 1996, 'Issues in the treatment of lesbian women and gay men with chronic mental illness', Psychiatric Services, vol. 47, no.10.
Kitzinger, C. 1996, 'The Case Against 'Merger': Psychologisation of Lesbian Relationships', in L. Mohin (ed), An intimacy of equals, Onlywomen Press.
Kitzinger, C. 1996, 'Heteropatriarchal language: the case against homophobia', in L. Mohin (ed), An intimacy of equals, Onlywomen Press.
Kitzinger, C. and Perkins, R. 1993, Changing our minds: lesbian feminism and psychology, Onlywomen Press.
MacFarlane, L. 1998, Diagnosis: homophobic – the experiences of lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in mental health service, PACE, The Project for Advice, Counselling and Education.
O'Connor, N. and Ryan, J. 1993, Wild desires and mistaken identities: lesbianism and psychoanalysis, Virago.
Perkins, R. 1996, 'Combating anti-lesbianism in mental health care', Women and Mental Health Forum, Newsletter of the Women and Mental Health Network UK, no.1.
Perkins, R. 1996, 'Worlds apart: madness and able-minded assumptions', in L. Mohin (ed), An intimacy of equals, Onlywomen Press.
Sayce, L. 1995, Breaking the link between homosexuality and mental illness: an unfinished history, Mind Policy Unit.
Willmot, J. 1997, Mind's policy on lesbians, gay men, bisexual women and men and mental health, Mind.
Young, V. 1995, The equality complex, Cassell.

Sexuality and coming out

Lesbian Information Service 1995, Coming out – young lesbian pack
Lesbian Information Service 1995, Lesbians, coming out and identity development – resource list.
Lesbian Information Service 1995, I think I might be a lesbian...now what do I do?
Mind. How to cope with doubts about your sexual identity.
Sanderson, T. 1989, How to be a happy homosexual – A Guide for Gay Men, Gay Men's Press.
Trenchard, L. 1989, Being lesbian, GMP Publications.

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Useful contacts

(Organisations have been listed under the following headings: alcohol misuse, anti-violence, bereavement, bookshops, campaigns, counselling and support, disabled people, groups for service users/survivors, helplines, HIV/AIDS, support for families, young people.)

Alcohol misuse

Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Alcohol Project
34 Electric Lane
London SW9 8JT
tel: 020 7737 3579
fax: 020 7737 2119
email: info@acaps.co.uk
web: www.acaps.co.uk
Provides individual and couples counselling, complementary therapies.

Anti-violence

Shoutline
Unit 2G
Leroy House
436 Essex Road
London N1 3QP
helpline: 020 7704 2040 (Mon 6-9pm, Tues 2-5pm and Fri 11am-1pm)
email: info@galop.org.uk
web: www.galop.org.uk
Issues dealt with include homophobic and transphobic violence and the police. Offers emotional support and legal information on a range of related topics such as domestic violence, hate mail and inadequate police assistance. 

Survivors of Lesbian Abuse (SOLA)
55 Hemstal Road
London NW6 2AD
tel: 020 7328 7389 (Tues-Fri 10am-5pm) 
email: solalondon@hotmail.com
Aims to support women who have experienced abuse within a lesbian relationship. 

Bereavement

Lesbian and Gay Bereavement Helpline
tel: 020 7403 5969 (Tues and Thurs 7-10pm)

Bookshops

Gay's the Word Bookshop
66 Marchmont Street
London WC1N 1AB
tel: 020 7278 7654
Gay's the Word has a wide selection of books for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals. Also has a section on transsexuality and transvestism.

Silvermoon Women's Bookshop
Foyle's Bookshop
113-119 Charing Cross Road
London WC2H 0EB
tel: 020 7440 1562
fax: 020 7434 1574
email: silvermoon@foyles.co.uk
Now based within Foyle's bookshop, Silvermoon has a selection of books on lesbian and women's issues.

Campaigns

OutRage!
PO Box 17816
London
SW14 8WT
Tel: 020 8240 0222
email: outrage@blueyonder.co.uk
web: www.outrage.org.uk
Campaigning organisation for equal rights for lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

Stonewall
Tower Building
York Road
SE1 7NX
tel: 020 7593 1850 
email: info@stonewall.org.uk
web: www.stonewall.org.uk
Lobbying, research and campaigning organisation.

Most trade unions have a lesbian, gay and bisexual group (UNISON being the largest). A number of professions have lesbian and gay groups including medics, lawyers, teachers, etc.

Counselling and support

East London Out Project (ELOP)
56-60 Grove Road
Walthamstow
London E17 9BN
tel: 020 8509 3898
fax: 020 8521 4720
email: admin@elop.org
Formerly the East London Lesbian and Gay Counselling Service. Low cost confidential counselling for lesbians and women who have sex with women, and gay men and men who have sex with men. Also offer support and social groups.

Healthy Gay Living Centre
40 Borough High Street
London SE1 1XW
tel: 020 7407 3550
Pan-London gay health promotion project. Provides counselling.

Kairos in Soho
56 Old Compton Street
London W1V 5PA
tel: 020 7437 6063
fax: 020 7734 1527
email: KiS@kairosinsoho.org.uk
web: www.kairosinsoho.org.uk
Wellbeing of body, mind and spirit for lesbians, gay men and their friends. Offers activities and events on self-development, holistic health, social and spiritual issues, self-help groups.

The Metro Centre
Norman House
110-114 Norman Rd
London SE10 9QJ
tel: 020 8305 5000 (weekdays 10am-5pm)
email: info@metrocentreonline.org
web: www.metrocentreonline.org
Lesbian, gay and bisexual mental health project for people who are experiencing, or have experienced, mental health problems. Service includes counselling and crisis support. Drop-in Thursday 1-4pm.

PACE (Project for Advocacy, Counselling and Education)
34 Hartham Road
London N7 9JL
tel: 020 7700 1323
fax: 020 7609 4909
email: pace@dircon.co.uk
web: www.pacehealth.org.uk
Specialises in counselling for lesbians and gay men. Has its own training programme and provides short-term counselling (up to 12 sessions) for individuals, couples and families, crisis counselling, and some longer-term sessions. Youth groups and counselling for 16-25 year olds. Fees are on a sliding scale according to income. Also have a private register of gay counsellors. 

The Pink Practice
tel: 020 7060 4000
email: info1@pinkpractice.co.uk
web: www.pinkpractice.co.uk
The Pink Practice is a private counselling service for lesbians, gay men and bisexuals in Central London. They offer short and longer-term work with individuals, couples and families.

Sayge (Psychotherapy and Counselling)
1 Harley Street,
London W1G 9QD
tel: 020 8376 3412
email: info@sayge.com
web: www.sayge.com
London based provider of gay-affirmative psychotherapy and counselling services working with individuals to identify, understand and manage the anxieties that trouble them.

Disabled people

GEMMA
BM Box 5700
London WC1N 3XX 
Multi-ethnic self-help group for lesbian and bisexual women (aged over 16), with or without a disability.

Groups for service users/survivors

Mind Out Cymru
Third Floor
Quebec House
Castlebridge
Cowbridge Road East
Cardiff CF11 9AB
tel: 029 2039 5123
web: www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/Cymru/ A support and information network for lesbian, gay and bisexual people in Wales who are mental health users or workers.

Helplines

National

London Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
tel: 020 7837 7324 daily (10am -11pm)
email: admin@llgs.org.uk
web: www.llgs.org.uk

Helpline and information service for lesbians, gay men and bisexual people.

East

Cambridge Lesbian Line 
tel: 01223 311 753 (Fri 7-9pm) 

Lesbian and Gay Anglia
tel: 0845 123 2388 (Mon to Sat 7.30-10pm)

Norfolk Friend
tel: 01603 628 055 (Fri and Sun 7-9pm)

Norfolk Lesbian Line
tel: 01603 625 822 (Thurs 7-9pm)

Suffolk Gay and Lesbian Helpline
tel: 01473 232 212 (Tues and Sat 7.30-10pm)

London

London Friend Helpline
86 Caledonian Road
London N1 9DN
helpline: 020 7837 3337 (7.30-10pm every day)
tel: 020 7833 1674
email: office@londonfriend.org.uk
web: www.londonfriend.org.uk

Midlands

Derby Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Switchboard
helpline: 01332 349 333 (Tues, Wed, Thurs 10am-1pm and 7.30-9.30pm)
web: www.gayderby.co.uk

Hereford and Worcester Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
PO 156
Worcester WR5 1BP
helpline: 01905 723 097 (Tues, Wed, Thurs 7.30-9.30, Sun 12-2pm)

Leicester Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Line
tel: 0116 255 0667 (Thursday 7.30-10pm)

Mesmen
tel: 024 7622 4090 (Mon to Fri 9.30am-5.30pm)
Gay and bisexual health promotion project and youth group covering the Coventry and Warwickshire area.

Oxford Friend Lesbian and Gay Helpline
helpine: 01865 726 893 (Tues, Wed and Fri 7-9pm)

North and North East

Bradford Friend Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Helpline
c/o BCVS
19 Sunbridge Road
Bradford BD1 2AY
helpline: 01274 723 802 (Mon and Wed 6.30-8.45pm)

Hull Lesbian Line
PO Box 26
Hull HU1 2RX
helpline: 01482 214 331 (first Monday of the month 7-9pm)

Newcastle Lesbian Line
tel: 0191 261 2277 
web: www.newcastlelesbianline.co.uk

Scunthorpe Gay Helpline 
helpline: 01724 271 661 (Wed 7-9pm) 

Sheffield Gayphone 
helpline: 0114 272 6969 (Mon-Wed 7.30-9.30pm) 

South Yorkshire Connections
helpline: 01226 730 703 (Fri 7-10pm, Sun 3-8pm)

North West

The Armistead Centre
First Floor
Musker Buildings
1 Stanley Street
Liverpool L1 6AA
tel: 01744 454 823 (daily 12-6pm)
Serving the whole of the Merseyside region

Lancashire Friends
helpline: 01282 454 978 (Tues, Wed and Thurs 7.30-9.30pm)

Lancaster Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
helpline: 01524 847 437 (Thurs and Fri)

Manchester Lesbian and Gay Foundation
tel: 0161 235 8000 (6-10pm every day)
web: www.lgfoundation.org.uk

South East

beYou: Berkshire Gay and Lesbian Information Network
helpline: 0118 959 7269 (Tues 7.30-9.30pm)
web: www.beyou.org.uk

Brighton Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
tel/textphone: 01273 204 050 (6-11pm every day)

Colchester Gay Switchboard and HIV/AIDS helpline
helpline: 01206 869 191 (Mon-Fri 7-10pm)

Hastings Gay Helpline 
tel: 01424 444 777 (Wed 7-9pm)

Q:space
Suite A and B
Witan Court
317 Upper Forth Street
Central Milton Keynes MK9 1EH
tel: 01908 241 528
web: www.qalliance.org.uk

South West

Bristol Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
tel: 0117 9221328 (Mon-Thurs 8-10pm)

Dorset Lesbian and Gay Helpline 
helpline: 01202 318 822 (Mon-Fri 7.30-10pm)

Intercom Trust
helpline: 01392 201 018 (weekday office hours and Tues 7-9pm)
email: lynx@intercomtrust.org.uk
web: www.intercomtrust.org.uk
Provides advocacy, help and support against the prejudice and discrimination faced by lesbians, gay men and bisexual people in the Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset area.

Gay and Lesbian Friend Helpline (Gloucestershire) 
helpline: 01452 306 800 (Mon-Fri 7.30-10.30pm)

Somerset Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Helpline
Helpline: 01823 327 078 

Wight Out: Island Lesbian and Gay Switchboard (Isle of Wight)
PO Box 10
Newport
Isle of Wight PO30 5XQ
helpline: 01983 525 123 (Wed/Sat 7.30-10pm)
email: helpline@wightout.org.uk
web: www.wightout.org.uk

Scotland

Fife Friend 
PO Box 14229
Kirkcaldy
Fife KY1 2WB
tel: 01592 265 666 (Friday 7.30pm-10.00pm)

Lothian Gay and Lesbian Switchboard
tel: 0131 556 4049 (7.30-10pm every day)

Strathclyde Lesbian and Gay Switchboard
tel: 0141 847 0447 (7-10pm every day)

For a list of more Scottish switchboards visit http://queery.org.uk/StaticPages/Advice.asp

Wales

(see above under 'Groups for service users/survivors')

Northern Ireland

Cara Friend
tel: 028 9032 2023 (Mon, Tues and Wed 7.30-10pm)
Information, counselling and befriending. Runs face-to-face befriending and social support groups. 

HIV/AIDS

Positively Women
347-349 City Road
London EC1V 1LR 
tel: 020 7713 0444
helpline: 020 7713 0222 (Mon-Fri 10am-4pm)
fax: 020 7713 1020
email: info@positivelywomen.org.uk
web: www.positivelywomen.org.uk
Positively Women provide a range of practical and emotional support services for women with HIV, AIDS or any of the associated conditions.

Sexual Health Line
Freepost
PO Box 4000
Glasgow G3 8XX
helpline: 0800 567 123
minicom: 0800 521 361
web: www.playingsafely.co.uk
24-hour free helpline for people concerned about HIV/AIDS. 

Terrence Higgins Trust
52-54 Gray's Inn Road
London WC1X 8JU 
tel: 020 7831 0330
helpline: 0845 1221 200 (Mon-Fri 10am-10pm, Sat and Sun 12-6pm)
email: info@tht.org.uk
web: www.tht.org.uk
Terrence Higgins Trust gives advice, information and support to anyone affected in any way by HIV and AIDS. Interpreters can be provided. 

Support for families

Friends and Families of Lesbians and Gays (FFLAG)
helpline: 01454 852 418
email: info@fflag.org.uk
web: www.fflag.org.uk
A national network of confidential helplines and groups who offer support to parents and families of lesbians and gays.

Young people

The Albert Kennedy Trust
London office
Unit 305a Hatton Square
16/16a Baldwins Gardens
London EC1N 7RJ
tel: 020 7831 6562
fax: 020 7405 6929
email: enquiries@akt.org.uk
web: www.akt.org.uk

Manchester office
Unity House
15 Pritchard Street
Manchester M1 7DA
tel: 0161 228 3308 
fax: 0161 228 3309
email: manchester@akt.org.uk

Brighton and Hove office
tel: 020 7831 6562
fax: 020 7405 6929
email: brightonandhove@akt.org.uk
The Albert Kennedy Trust places young lesbians and gays who are homeless with gay carers. Also organises a mentoring scheme.

Written by Jackie Golding, 1996. Updated by George Stewart, 2002. Updated by Sarah Jane Gillam, 2005.