Aim: To explore experiences of social and health professional support among sexual minority forced migrant men.

Design: Exploratory qualitative study.MethodsIndividual semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2023 with 15 participants recruited through convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process between researchers and experts by lived experience.

Results: The first category was 'desiring support along a road with challenging intersections'. Participants encountered a harsh reality and dangers in the host country. They sought social connections and communicated with others whilst in a social labyrinth within a new and reserved society. Although social support was desired and highly appreciated, the process involved a spectrum of both belonging and exclusion. The second category was 'navigating uncharted waters when seeking affirming health services'. A range of barriers to health services were encountered in a complex health system. Participants emphasized the importance of safe and affirming spaces that accommodate the vulnerability of disclosure.

Conclusion: Ensuring respectful and affirming support for sexual minority forced migrants is essential. Barriers in accessing health services need to be addressed, including informing about rights and ensuring safety.Implication for the Professional and Patient CareNurses and other health professionals can consider social support as a potentially valuable resource for health promotion. However, there is a need for more research investigating its mental health effects.ImpactThe intersectional disadvantages and discrimination encountered by sexual minority forced migrants call attention to the need for further advancements in inclusion health and affirming care.Reporting MethodThis study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research.

Patient or Public Contribution: Three sexual minority forced migrants were members of the research team. They were involved in the data collection, analysis and reporting in close collaboration with researchers.

Worldwide, too many sexuality and gender minority individuals face significant danger due to their identity(ies), compelling them to seek refuge in another country. This qualitative study explored the pre-migration trauma and post-migration health burdens of sexuality and gender minority forced migrants in Sweden. Between April and June 2023, 34 participants were recruited using convenience, purposive, and snowball sampling and interviewed individually using semi-structured interviews. Inductive qualitative content analysis was conducted collaboratively by two researchers and two sexuality and gender minority forced migrants. The findings reveal the deep impact of societal oppression and violence in participants' home countries, where they endured physical violence, torture, conversion attempts, and death threats, often from both community members and family. Escaping these dangers was filled with further risks. During resettlement, participants continued to face significant challenges, experiencing both mental and physical health issues, as well as profound loneliness.

Aims: To describe and synthesise qualitative studies exploring sexual and gender minority migrants' experiences of health service access and utilisation.

Design: Systematic meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.

Data Sources: Systematic searches in four databases and citation screening were conducted in 2023 and 2024. English-language empirical qualitative studies published in scientific journals within 10 years were included. Of 1109 screened, 21 reports were included.

Methods: Included reports were appraised using CASP and JBI checklists. Extracted results were analysed with inductive content analysis in a collaborative process.

Results: All reports had acceptable quality, including 365 participants from 72 countries. A range of external and internal barriers to accessing health services were reported, including financial constraints and fears. Although migrants expressed an appreciation of health services, they also experienced non-affirming behaviours and discrimination related to their intersecting identities. Several essential components in health services necessary to cater to the needs of migrants were addressed, including the personality and manner of health professionals as well as adherence to confidentiality.

Conclusion: Barriers to health services, intersectional discrimination and non-affirming behaviours when interacting with health services are pressing issues that need further attention.

Implication for the Profession and/or Patient Care: Ensuring safety through affirming support is key to achieving high-quality and accessible health services for sexual and gender minority migrants. Nurses and other health professionals need to carefully consider intersectional layers related to sensitivity and safety when supporting sexual and gender minority migrants. Open, friendly, validating, respectful and encouraging communication is essential in clinical settings.

Impact: This review addressed experiences of health services amongst a marginalised population. The findings highlight the importance of affirming care and are relevant for health professionals, stakeholders and decision-makers.

Reporting Method: ENTREQ.

Patient or Public Contribution: Two persons with lived experience were involved in the meta-synthesis.

The aim of this study was to explore health professionals’ descriptions and interpretations of post-migration mental health and societal challenges among forced migrants with diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and gender expressions. Participants representing seven professions were recruited by a combination of convenience, purposive and snowball sampling. Data were collected through focus groups and individual interviews, analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process involving researchers, clinicians and migrants with lived experiences. Participants described a challenging trajectory for migrants, as migrants venture through an uncertain and demanding journey impacting their mental health. Needing to deal with legal requirements, stressful circumstances and normative expectations during the asylum process were highlighted as major challenges, along with exposure to discrimination, violence, abuse and lack of psychosocial safety. Participants described significant psychological distress among migrants, including loneliness and shame. Challenges were also recognised related to exploring, accepting and expressing sexuality and gender. Loneliness and shame are major challenges in need of further attention in research, which could be addressed through the development and evaluation of actions, programmes and interventions to provide peer support.

Aims: To explore the components that influence health and wellbeing of gender minority forced migrants residing in Sweden.Methods: Qualitative exploratory study based on semi-structured interviews with gender minority forced migrants recruited through a combination of convenience, purposeful and snowball sampling. Guided by the levels in the social ecological model, transcripts were analysed with systematic text condensation in a collaborative process between experts by lived experience, researchers and clinical psychologist.Results: Participants expressed resilience and hope about their future. Loneliness was a major issue contributing to health burdens and peer support was highly appreciated. Barriers hindering access to health services and judgemental behaviours among health professionals were described. Affirming support through empathy, trust, safety, confidentiality, continuity and respect was highlighted as essential in health services. While societal openness and safety for gender minority individuals was appreciated, participants faced an uncertain asylum process and unmet basic needs.Conclusions: Gender minority forced migrants show resilience and appreciate the newfound societal safety. However, they find themselves in the margins of society and encounter various multi-layered challenges. Loneliness is a public health concern that could be addressed through peer support, which is highly desired and valued. Ensuring access to affirming health services should be a prioritized area for researchers, professionals, stakeholders and policy-makers.

Aims: To explore the experiences of seeking asylum and its impact on mental health among sexual minority forced migrant cisgender men living in Sweden.

Methods: Exploratory qualitative study based on individual semi-structured interviews with 15 adult gay and bisexual cisgender men recruited via a combination of purposeful, convenience and snowball sampling. Data were analysed with systematic text condensation through a collaborative approach with three migrants with lived experience.

Results: Seeking asylum had been an emotionally challenging journey for the participants in this study, involving several procedures that negatively impacted mental health. Being expected to disclose intimate information during asylum interviews had been a significant challenge, alongside needing to wait through long periods in uncertainty with little information about the progress of their asylum case. The behaviours and attitudes of professionals involved in the legal procedures had been a central aspect, as participants encountered interpreters and caseworkers who acted disrespectful and homophobic during asylum interviews. Participants mentioned that the behaviours of interpreters and the accuracy of the interpretation could influence the outcome of asylum claims and how comfortable they felt in sharing information. Thus, participants emphasized the importance of adequate and accurate interpreter services.

Conclusions: Sexual minority men are faced with an unfamiliar and emotionally challenging position when seeking asylum and undergoing asylum interviews. The findings highlight the importance of adequate competence among professionals involved in asylum interviews, including interpreter utilization. Research is needed to determine effective methods to support these men throughout their asylum process.