Freedom in thought and feeling

Published: 9 December 2025

Reading time: 3 minutes

Refugees who exceed norms around gender identity or sexual orientation find themselves in a particularly vulnerable situation. Experiences of violence and discrimination follow these individuals into life in Sweden, and loneliness and minority stress can exacerbate mental health problems. Researchers at the Red Cross University College are now developing a peer support intervention together with the target group itself.

– Severe loneliness is a major problem for these individuals after arriving in Sweden. Peer support is requested as a potential way to improve health and well-being, says Tommy Carlsson, Associate Professor of Nursing at the Red Cross University College.

This Forte-funded project builds on previous studies where researchers, together with refugees who identify as LGBTQ+ and professionals in healthcare and support services, identified a clear need for contexts where people can meet on equal terms and feel validated.

A supportive environment can be crucial

Refugees who identify as LGBTQ+ describe that the path to security is long, even after receiving protection. Minority stress, unstable housing, and lack of social networks create conditions that can lead to depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

– Overall, it’s about creating supportive environments where you feel seen and validated as who you are, says Tommy. Not feeling like you fit in, or not feeling safe enough to live an authentic life, can have many negative consequences for health and well-being.

By creating meeting places where participants receive support from others with similar experiences, researchers are examining whether peer support can contribute to improved mental well-being and strengthened coping skills in a new and complex life situation.

It’s about creating supportive environments where you feel seen and validated as who you are

Tommy Carlsson

Associate Professor of Nursing at Red Cross University College

Co-creation in practice with the target group as co-researchers

A central part of the project is that people with lived experience of being a refugee and who identify as LGBTQ+ are employed as research assistants and participate in everything from planning to analysis.

– We plan how our studies will be conducted, collect data, and analyze the material together. People with lived experience are absolutely central to the research team, says Tommy.

This means that the intervention’s design, support group structure, recruitment pathways, and choice of outcome measures are developed from the perspective of the target group.

For participants, it can also mean an opportunity to influence future initiatives and help strengthen others in similar situations.

– Refugees are driven by a strong desire to help others. Participating in this project also provides an opportunity for employment and social connection.

Creating a sense of meaningfulness

So far, researchers have identified several important components that may influence the relevance of the initiative: how groups should be led, which topics should be addressed, and how recruitment and follow-up can be conducted safely.

Those who have participated describe that it feels meaningful to contribute to work that can improve future reception and support for refugees who identify as LGBTQ+.

– What we hear is that it feels valuable to contribute to improving health and well-being for those who come to Sweden in the future. They have also said that it feels validating to share in others’ experiences and, through that, realize that they are not alone, says Tommy.

A potential piece in the work for equitable health

At a societal level, the results could be significant. If the peer support intervention proves feasible and effective, it could complement existing initiatives within healthcare and social services and serve as a low-threshold method to strengthen mental health during the integration process.

– We believe there is good potential for peer support to improve mental health and well-being. It would provide additional knowledge on how public health can be promoted for people who are forced to flee to another country.

The project also contributes knowledge about how groups that often fall outside established structures can be involved in research and development work.

– It is particularly important that research continues to generate deeper knowledge on how groups that are excluded and marginalized can be involved and become more participatory. Our project contributes to that development of knowledge, concludes Tommy.

Peer support for refugees who identify as LGBTQ+

Forte has awarded SEK 7.5 million to a research project focusing on support for refugees with non-normative sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions (here defined as LGBTQ+). LGBTQ+ is an abbreviation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and/or other non-normative sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions.

Michelle Bornestad (English translation by Forte)