Rainbow populations in Tāmaki Makaurau experience higher risks of mental health issues, substance abuse, homelessness, and social isolation due to discrimination and lack of inclusion. Issues identified by Aucklanders include difficulties with housing, transportation, visibility, leadership opportunities, community spaces and events, healthcare, and safety. The document recommends naming and prioritizing rainbow populations; developing inclusive services and spaces with trained staff; and involving rainbow community leaders to develop solutions.

1. Belonging and participation
& rainbow communities in Tāmaki Makaurau

3. an umbrella term to describe people who:
- have sexual identities, behaviours or attractions
other than heterosexual,
- do not fit typical gender norms, and/or
- were born with bodies that do not match
common biological definitions of male or female.
“rainbow"

4. Image: Out Loud report on rainbow experiences of mental health and addictions services:
https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/ry.storage/OutLoud_Report_Web_Final.pdf

5. Rainbow populations in New Zealand experience significantly
higher lifetime risk for suicidal behaviour, self-harm and
depression, anxiety, substance misuse and eating disorders,
homelessness and social isolation

6. Issues identified by Aucklanders:
housing, transport, visibility,
international leadership, spaces,
events & venues, healthcare, safety

7. Not because of our identities,
but because of discrimination
and social exclusion

9. internal (shame, internalised discrimination, sense of failure)
interpersonal (violence, bullying, insults and verbal abuse, sexual assault
and coercion, social rejection, exclusion from families and whānau, secrecy
and shame associated with intersex status)
within communities (marginalisation or invisibility through difference from
community norms, police harassment, delayed or inadequate access to health
and mental health care)
and structurally (legal and public policy discrimination)
risk factors: discrimination and exclusion

10. protective factors: belonging and inclusion
internal (sense of belonging, positive sense of identity, high self-esteem and
personal coping mechanisms)
interpersonal (rainbow friends, supportive community connections, positive
friendships and romantic relationships, family acceptance, connection with
support groups)
within communities (supportive school environments)
and structurally (positive stereotypes and representations in media)

12. 1. Name and prioritise rainbow populations in strategies, policies and research

13. 2. Develop inclusive services and spaces
with confident, competent staff

14. 3. Involve and resource
rainbow community leaders
to develop solutions

15. Thank you