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Advancing Inclusive Design Practice for Queer Youth Using Digital Technologies for Mental Health

Poulsen, Adam, Hickie, Ian B., Hockey, Samuel J., Iorfino, Frank, LaMonica, Haley M.·2026·Medical Journal of Australia
DOI 10.5694/mja2.70183PMC PMC13077731
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Abstract

Youth mental ill health has increased worldwide, and non‐inclusive technology design practice risks overlooking queer youth. This article calls for greater inclusivity and equity in the design of digital technologies used by queer youth to access mental health resources, support and service pathways across diverse global contexts, including internet‐based tools, digital platforms and digitally enabled therapeutic interventions, such as mobile applications (apps), online services, chatbots and social media. It warns of threats such as persistent invisibility and prejudiced technology design practice markedly affecting mental health equity and access for queer youth. It proposes three key principles to guide practitioners and researchers in designing digital technologies used by queer youth for mental health: (i) partner and design with queer young people; (ii) embed queer theory into research and design; and (iii) design for sustainability. The principles and recommendations presented here are also relevant to other digital health fields and practitioners should consider applying them in their own practice, where appropriate, to advance inclusivity and equity in technology design.

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  • Poulsen et al. (2026) proposed three core commitments for digital mental health tools aimed at queer youth: partnering with queer young people throughout design, embedding queer theory into research and development frameworks, and designing for sustainability rather than novelty.

    “Poulsen et al. (2026) synthesized these threads into a set of practical design principles specifically for digital mental health tools aimed at queer youth, proposing three core commitments: partnering with queer young people throughout the design process, embedding queer theory into research and development frameworks, and designing for sustainability rather than novelty.”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Poulsen et al. (2026)

  • A smaller set of reviewed studies proceeds from a different premise, asking whether digital tools can constitute affirming environments in their own right rather than only helping LGBTQ+ young people withstand hostile environments.

    “A smaller set of studies reviewed here proceeds from a different premise, asking not how digital tools help LGBTQ+ young people withstand hostile environments but whether those tools can constitute affirming environments in their own right (Poulsen et al., 2026).”

    From Artificial intelligence and immersive technologies for LGBTQ+ youth: a narrative review (2026) · cites this paper as Poulsen et al., 2026

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Metadata

Authors
Poulsen, A., Hickie, I. B., Hockey, S. J., Iorfino, F., & LaMonica, H. M.
Affiliations
Brain and Mind Centre University of Sydney Sydney New South Wales Australia
ORCID
Venue
Medical Journal of Australia
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2026-04
Volume
224
Issue
4
ISSN
  • 0025-729X
  • 1326-5377
DOI
10.5694/mja2.70183
PMC
PMC13077731
Cited by
1
References
3
Language
en
Licence
Funders
National Health and Medical Research Council (GNT2016346, GNT2018157)

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