Authors: Kathy Bond
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Promotion, Prevention, Early Intervention,Reducing Stigma and Discrimination,Community, Culture, Society
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex, Questioning or Queer (LGBTIQ) people experience mental health problems at higher rates than non-LGBTIQ people. This paper will present the guidelines that were developed, using the Delphi research method, by Mental Health First Aid Australia and the University of Melbourne, with assistance from the National LGBTI Health Alliance, MindOut project. The guidelines outline what a person needs to consider when providing mental health first aid to an LGBTIQ person. It will briefly review the literature on mental health problems in LGBTIQ people, describe the research methodology used to develop the guidelines and then summarise the advice given in the guidelines. This includes:
* The importance of using appropriate, non-stigmatising language when supporting an LGBTIQ person.
* How to talk and ask questions about LGBTIQ experiences.
* How to show and provide practical support to an LGBTIQ person experiencing mental health problems, including specific advice when the person experiences discrimination and stigma, discloses their LGBTIQ experience or ‘comes out’, or is an adolescent.
* How to encourage treatment seeking.
These guidelines are an important resource for members of the community to be able to support LGBTIQ family members, friends and colleagues who are experiencing mental health problems.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: Audience members will learn practical skills for supporting an LGBTIQ person with mental health problems.
Learning Objective 2: It is important for mental health professionals to know about these guidelines so they can refer clients and members of the public to this valuable resource. Furthermore, mental health professionals who do not regularly work with members of the LGBTIQ community may find these guidelines enhance their practice.
References
Leonard, W., Pitts, M., Mitchell, A., Lyons, A., Smith, A., Patel, S., & Couch, M. (2012). Private lives 2: The second national survey on the health and wellbeing of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT) Australians. Melbourne: The Australian Research Centre in Sex Health and Society, La Trobe University.
Skerrett, Kõlves, & De Leo, 2015 Skerrett, D. M., Kõlves, K., & De Leo, D. (2015). Are LGBT populations at a higher risk for suicidal behaviors in Australia? Research findings and implications. Journal of Homosexuality, 62(7), 883–901. doi: 10.1080/00918369.2014.1003009
This resource is only available for subscribers. If you have a subscription, please log in. Otherwise, click here to purchase a subscription.