FAQs
What is imi?
imi is a series of guides, designed with and for LGBTQ+ teens, to help explore and affirm their identity. It’s free, backed by science, and helps teens learn practical methods to cope with sexual and gender minority stress in ways that are helpful, relevant, inclusive and joyful.
Who made it?
The funding and idea came from a collaboration between Hopelab, CenterLink, and It Gets Better Project. The product, though, has been made with inputs and contributions from hundreds of LGBTQ+ teens and the team at Hopelab. We’ve also worked with some really great partners (like many LGBT Centers and the University of Pennsylvania) to make sure this thing works.
Does imi work? What did you learn from testing it?
Researchers at Hopelab and the University of Pennsylvania’s Program on Sexuality, Technology, and Action Research (PSTAR) conducted a randomized controlled trial to understand how imi supports the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth.
Results from the trial show that imi boosts positive coping skills and mindsets that are important for supporting the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth. Teens randomly assigned to receive the full imi web app reported significantly greater improvements in coping skills and significantly greater confidence in their coping abilities than those randomly assigned to receive a web-based list of freely available, vetted resources for LGBTQ+ youth.
You can read the full study here or learn more about the significance of the research results here.
Why did you pick the name ‘imi’?
imi (sounds like eye-me) is a nod to the idea that no matter who you are, you’re you (i.e. “I’m me”). The logo, designed as an ambigram which can be read in many orientations, also nods to our belief that even as you change and evolve, you are exactly as you are.
Why ‘queer’?
Language is constantly evolving. While the word queer was once considered a negative term, it’s being reclaimed and increasingly used by members of the LGBTQ+ community to describe anyone who is not heterosexual and/or cisgender. We believe that being queer is powerful and worthy of celebration. And by reclaiming a word that used to be a slur, we acknowledge that being LGBTQ+ is still not easy and it doesn’t magically get better. Thriving happens when queer people are supported and affirmed in their identity.
What if I have feedback?
We’d love to hear your feedback. If you have anything to share about a specific page or bit of imi, click the 'Feedback’ button on the right side. It’ll ask you a little bit of optional info about you, and will send our team your feedback along with a screenshot of the page you’re on (don’t worry, we’ll only see the page and nothing else). So far, we’ve received 100s of pieces of feedback and have appreciated every single one.
And, what if I want to contribute?
Yes, please! If you’d like to include your voice (or face, or art, or ideas) within imi, let us know. Send an email to hello@imi.guide and we’ll get back to you.
What if I have a question that isn't covered here, or I want to speak to the team behind imi?
We'd love to hear from you, please email us at hello@imi.guide or DM us on Instagram at @imiguide.