The safe zone symbol: Its impact on attitudes about seeking mental health services

LGBQ individuals often face high levels of prejudice and discrimination (Herek, 2009; Kosciw, Diaz, & Greytak, 2007; Walls, Kane, & Wisneski, 2010), and efforts to combat the stigma and discrimination have focused on providing a ‘Safe Zone,’ for these individuals. One method of implementing a Safe Zone is by posting a Safe Zone symbol, which is used as a visible affirmation and a sign of safety for LGBQ individuals. Until recently, research had not investigated the impact of the symbol on potential clients’ attitudes toward receiving mental health services. A pilot study (Hardin & Bewley, 2010) investigating the impact of the symbol found that it did not have a significant effect on heterosexual participants’ comfort, although higher ratings of religious conservatism was related to a decline in comfort. However, LGBQ participants’ comfort did increase after being told the meaning of the symbol.

The current study expanded upon the pilot study by randomly assigning participants to view one of three different mental health clinic entry doors (i.e., ‘Subtle symbol’ affirming LGBQ; ‘Diversity symbol’ affirming a wider demographic; ‘Tornado symbol’ used as control). Participants rated their initial willingness to seek counseling and initial perception of the congruity of their values with those of the clinic. Then, participants were explicitly told the meaning behind the symbol displayed on their door and asked again to indicate their willingness to seek counseling and their perceived congruity of values. Results revealed that LGBQ participants were more willing to seek counseling compared to heterosexual participants after being told the meaning behind the symbol on their door. Participants’ perceived congruity of their values increased by being told the meaning of either diversity-related symbol. Participants’ level of religiousness and level of religious fundamentalism did not influence willingness to seek counseling or perceived congruity of values, regardless of symbol seen.