The study was conducted by a team of researchers and persons with lived experience of coming to Sweden as a forced migrant. Researchers conducted interviews with sexual minority forced migrant men and analyzed the material in collaboration with forced migrants.

It offers in-depth understanding about the needs of support from social contacts and health professionals. The study points to a harsh and sometimes dangerous reality when living in Sweden as a sexual minority forced migrant.

Being both a forced migrant and a person of sexual minority status involved a risk of exploitation and an unsafe living situation based on multiple intersecting disadvantages. Self-identifying as both a migrant and gay or bisexual, participants faced both racism as well as homophobia. Sometimes these instances had been violent and scary. An impactful problem brought up by several participants was loneliness when trying to transition into a new and unfamiliar society.

Loneliness had a heavy impact on the health and wellbeing of participants. We see a risk of marginalization and social exclusion based on multiple minority statuses. Within this framework, both racism and homophobia seem to play central roles, says Tommy Carlsson, associate professor and project leader.

Social support from people who accepted and acknowledged them was highly appreciated. Support between peers sharing similar experiences and circumstances was especially valued.  Activities through non-governmental organizations involved an opportunity to form deep and meaningful connections with friends and chosen family. The activities alleviated mental health burdens and helped improve their sleep. However, some participants felt excluded from certain social settings and had negative experiences related to social support. This calls attention to the need for more research evaluating the effects of peer support and exploring suitable ways to offer such an intervention. As a response to this gap in research, the research team behind this study will continue on towards development of a peer support intervention.

Coming to Sweden as a forced migrant, social support was integral to my wellbeing. When I arrived, I knew no one and did not know where to go. I found social support within friends and organizations, and this support provided a place where I felt relaxed, a sense of belonging, and validation. As an expert of lived experience, I am excited and looking forward to our social support intervention we will develop, where we will research and evaluate it. This says one of the public contributors in the project.

Participants in this study called attention to challenges when trying to access services in a complex healthcare system. It had been challenging to book appointments to health professionals. Migrants also felt hesitant to seek support because they feared that health professionals would report them to the authorities. Being met with respectful and affirming support from health professionals was emphasized. Participants needed health professionals to be friendly and open-minded. Unfortunately, some had encountered inattentiveness, lack of knowledge, and racist behaviors among health professionals. Taken together, these findings call attention to the need for further improvements in access and utilization of health services.