Gay London Life | June '26 Edition - Magazine - Page 20
What first led you to launch You Are Loved?
I’ve spent over a decade researching LGBTQ+ mental health and wellbeing,
and after the pandemic I became increasingly aware of the number of deaths
happening around me through suicide and drugs. What disturbed me just as
much was the silence afterwards. People would post tributes online, but there
was very little honest conversation about what had actually happened or why.
As a researcher, I knew these weren’t isolated cases. The data already
shows queer people die prematurely at much higher rates from suicide and
drug-related causes. So in 2024 I launched You Are Loved to raise awareness,
evidence the scale of the issue, and understand the root causes behind it.
Why was it important to speak openly about subjects many people still avoid?
Because silence is part of the problem. These conversations are uncomfortable
because they carry stigma, but avoiding them only makes things worse. We’ve
Silence Is
Part Of The
Problem
spent our first year making visible what’s happening in our community, but
You Are Loved is tackling some of the hardest
conversations facing the LGBTQ+ community right
now, from suicide and addiction to loneliness and
stigma. We spoke to founder Marc Svensson about
why the organisation launched, what Ask Bobby
actually does, and why prevention matters just as
much as crisis support.
hub that helps people find LGBTQ+ organisations, social groups, services, and
now we’re focusing more on prevention, loneliness, shame, isolation, and
discrimination. The deaths are the visible crisis point, but we need to address
the conditions underneath them.
What support can people actually access through You Are Loved?
We support people across the full spectrum of need. We run free queer-specific
bereavement groups in London and online for people who’ve lost someone
through suicide or drugs. We also created Ask Bobby, our AI-powered support
mental health support based on their situation and location.
Alongside that, we run events and conversations designed to connect
people before they reach crisis point.
What would you say to somebody struggling but unsure about reaching out?
Don’t wait. Reaching out isn’t weakness, it’s self-awareness. You don’t need to
be at rock bottom to deserve support.
Find support or donate at
youareloved.org.uk
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