Welcome to our advocacy service
PACE offers a free, confidential and independent service to clients who:
- live in or close to London and are
- age 16+ and who
- identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender and are
- accessing mental health services or need support to access mental health services
Why we provide an LGBT mental health advocacy service
Discrimination, homophobia, transphobia and heterosexism mean that lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people are more likely to have mental health issues than heterosexual people.
Many LGBT people are reluctant to access mainstream services or are unwilling to disclose their orientation in case they experience discrimination or are misunderstood. This can reduce the effectiveness of the support that they receive or lead to less positive outcomes.
PACE's mental health advocacy service aims to counterbalance these inequalities.
What we do
The Mental Health Advocacy Service at PACE provides practical support enabling individuals with mental health issues or in emotional distress to make informed choices, to represent themselves and to obtain services they may need
We can support clients with issues such as:
- Housing
- Health needs
- Care & treatment issues
- Mental health act tribunals
- Making complaints
- Obtaining services
- Support on ward rounds
- Combating homophobic and transphobic discrimination
How we can support you
We can help you to write letters, make phone calls, attend meetings and find appropriate support organisations. Appointments with our PACE advocate are an opportunity to talk about the issues that concern you and get support in prioritising and making practical, informed decisions.
| An Advocate Will: | An Advocate Will Not: |
| Spend time with you to get to know your views and wishes | Offer you advice, or tell you what they think you should do |
| Help you to get what you
want from the system | Make decisions about what they think is in your best interest |
| Provide information on
available resources | Talk to anyone about you without your permission |
| Support you to represent yourself | Withhold information from you |
| Be on your side | Speak for you unless you ask them to |
How to contact us
For more information, please contact the advocacy service by phone on 020 7700 1323 or by email at advocacy@pacehealth.org.uk
If you would like an appointment you can download this referral form and email or post back to us. Please note that appointments will only be available on Thursday and Friday.
Advocacy Referral Form
Professionals can also make a referral on your behalf but only with your permission.
