Psychological On-Call Service as a Possibility of Support for the LGBTQIA+ Population:

Perspectives and Interventions of On-Call Psychologists

Abstract

The Psychological On-Call Service is a form of psychological care aimed at providing immediate assistance to those who seek it. Exploratory and qualitative in nature, the research was conducted through semi-structured online interviews with seven on-call psychologists working in a Psychological On-Call Service dedicated to LGBTQIA+ individuals. This study aims to understand the possible contributions of psychological care, in the format of the On-Call Service, to the LGBTQIA+ community from the perspective of psychologists working in such services. It also seeks to investigate the meaning of the On-Call Service for the professionals who provide this service; to understand how a Psychological On-Call Service targeted at the LGBTQIA+ population operates; to identify the main demands of its users; and finally, to outline an overview of the psychological distress experienced by the LGBTQIA+ population, according to the perspective of the professionals serving this community. Based on data analysis using content analysis, the material was grouped by similarities into the following categories: the Psychological On-Call Service for LGBTQIA+ individuals; the on-call psychologists’ understanding of the demands presented by clients in this service; and the contributions of the On-Call Service to these patients. It is concluded that the online Psychological On-Call Service dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ population proves to be a relevant service that, by facilitating the expression of discourse and understanding the specificities of this group, promotes mental health, enhances self-perception, and thereby helps clients develop autonomy and empowerment.