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The overall objective of my research is to provide insight into the negative and positive experiences LGBTQ+ individuals have had with the mental health system in Nova Scotia.
Elayna Foran (they/she) obtained a bachelor’s degree in Women's Studies from Mount Saint Vincent University in 2021 and are in their second thesis-based year of MSVU's Graduate Women & Gender Studies program. Their thesis work centers around the discriminatory experiences of LGBTQ+ individuals within the mental healthcare system. They describe how exploring the perceived inequities and limitations, as well as the barriers in accessing mental health care, showcase where progress can be made to improve accessible treatment for these communities. By generating recommendations for practitioners, based on participant experience, they aim to provide space for further investigation in developing professional strategies for those who are providing care for LGBTQ+ individuals.
Elayna can be found at the Mount's Research Office as the MSVU 150 Research Ambassador coordinating social media output, events, and other projects surrounding the university’s 150th anniversary. This past academic year, they were also selected as the Alexa McDonough Institute’s Inaugural Fellow, through which they organized a Graduate Women and Gender Studies conference this past March. Other research interests include feminist poetry and philosophy, and in their free time they enjoy crochet, painting, and listening to K-Pop surrounded by their plants.
Elayna's graduate thesis is one example of the fascinating student research happening at MSVU. Mount students, like Elayna, are creating the change they want to see in the world and in their own lives, becoming leaders in their fields as they build a better society that cares for and inspires its people. Check out the graduate studies website at https://www.msvu.ca/academics/graduate-studies-at-the-mount/