This Thriving From The Start Network virtual panel event hosted an open and honest conversation about what it’s like to be queer* in the first years of your career and how this can impact on your mental health.
Our panel focused on three areas:
1. Coming out and belonging - how does being, and coming out as, queer impact mental health in the workplace?
2. Language and behaviour - how and when do queer people feel comfortable talking about their identities in the workplace? Do we self-police our behaviours and presentation? And how does that affect us?
3. Networks and support - What can young people do to build a sense of community and belonging in their professional environments? What more should businesses be doing to support the mental health of queer people?
Our Chair and panellists were:
Will Banks (he/him) - Policy Analyst, Bank of England
Oscar Hoyle (they/them) - Director, Trans in the City; Founding Director, Blossom LGBT CIC
Steph Gallagher (she/her) - Financial Stability Diversity and Inclusion Lead, Bank of England
* We are sensitive to the fact there may be tensions around the term “queer”. This term is being used after thoughtful discussion with the Thriving From The Start Network committee in the UK, our speakers and other young professionals from the community. We anticipate conversation around this term as part of panel conversation.