As part of the Queer Inclusive Health System in Kerala, SHSRC-Kerala, in collaboration with the Mariwala Health Initiative (MHI), conducted the state’s first-ever Queer Affirmative Counselling Practices (QACP) Residential Programme. This initiative trained government healthcare providers, including doctors and Bhoomika Centre counsellors, equipping them with essential skills and knowledge. The programme focused on perspective-building to help participants recognize systemic inequalities and understand their impact on mental health. It also provided practical tools to address distress and support the well-being of LGBTQIA+ individuals, fostering a more inclusive and empathetic healthcare system.

As part of the SHSRC–Kerala project, five training workshops were conducted during the year. Two of these workshops were held at the beginning of the financial year— one for psychologists and psychiatric social workers, and another for officials from six districts implementing the Community Link Workers Programme: Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram, Malappuram, Kottayam, Kozhikode, and Kollam.

Through sustained collaboration and the successful completion of these trainings, the Wayanad District Medical Team expressed strong interest in developing Wayanad as a queer-inclusive health system. In response, SHSRC–Kerala conducted a series of capacity-building programmes for health officials in the district. These included sensitisation programmes and Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops for healthcare workers.

Together, these workshops mark the beginning of the third phase in the development of a Queer Inclusive Health System in Kerala and Wayanad district Health System become the first district to achieve the Queer Inclusive.

A significant shift in knowledge and awareness regarding queer individuals (LGBTQIA+) was a key outcome of the workshops. With the implementation of this Queer inclusive health system, SHSRC-Kerala is gaining national recognition. Various institutions across the country are inviting SHSRC-Kerala to share expertise in this field, both as faculty and panelists. Additionally, research officers from SHSRC-Kerala, who are actively studying queer-inclusive healthcare, are also being invited to contribute as experts in discussions and training sessions. This growing recognition highlights the impact of SHSRC-Kerala’s efforts in fostering an inclusive and equitable healthcare system for queer individuals.