Exploring ways to create an inclusive and safe mental healthcare environment for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer (LGBTQ+) community is the focus of a new research project from Flinders University.
Almost three quarters (74.5 per cent) of LGBTQ+ Australians have experienced poor mental health at some time in their life (compared with 41.7 per cent of heterosexual/cisgender people).
It is estimated that 5-16 per cent of Australians are LGBTQ+, meaning that over 200,000 people in South Australia are potentially LGBTQ+ and in need of mental healthcare services due to the negative impacts of discrimination and marginalisation says Professor Damien Riggs.
“We know that LGBTQ+ people are more likely to experience stigma, discrimination and bullying which often leads to poor mental health,” says Professor Riggs.
“As a result, more LGBQT+ people will seek out mental health support services, yet there are relatively few that are tailored to their specific needs and instead they are forced to reply on generalist practitioners.
“In many cases they will refuse generalist medical services because of previous bad experiences and instead suffer in silence.
“We want to lift the barriers that LGBTQ+ communities face when it comes to accessing and engaging with quality mental healthcare services and staff.”
The research project, Developing an Inclusive Mental Healthcare Model of Care for LGBTQ people in South Australia, has received more than $700,000 in funding from Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to improve treatment and care for LGBTQ+ people.
“Ensuring the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within mental health services requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of service delivery, including intake procedures, the built environment, forms and documentation, service provision and the experiences of all staff and service users.
“Inclusion spans the availability of appropriate bathrooms, the competency of all staff to provide culturally safe care, and that inclusion spans from first point of contact through to referrals out from the service,” Professor Riggs says.
The research project, Developing an Inclusive Mental Healthcare Model of Care for LGBTQ people in South Australia, has received more than $700,000 in funding from Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) to improve treatment and care for LGBTQ+ people.
“Ensuring the inclusion of LGBTQ+ people within mental health services requires a holistic approach that considers all aspects of service delivery, including intake procedures, the built environment, forms and documentation, service provision and the experiences of all staff and service users.
“Inclusion spans the availability of appropriate bathrooms, the competency of all staff to provide culturally safe care, and that inclusion spans from first point of contact through to referrals out from the service,” Professor Riggs says.
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