Michael Caldwell For the Poughkeepsie Journal
Every June we celebrate Gay Pride Month across the country and even right here in Poughkeepsie with the Queen City Pride events this weekend (http://www.biggayhudsonvalley.com/queencitypride/). People who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning (LGBTQ) celebrate an acceptance and an openness that has never existed before in our society.
Caitlyn Jenner is a hallmark of one of the many breakthroughs being made in our country for the transgender community. These are historic times and I’d like to share some ways we can help the LGBTQ community stay healthy throughout the year and throughout their lives.
Gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and questioning individuals have special health concerns besides the usual ones that affect most men and women. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine noted, “At a time when lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals are becoming more visible in society and more socially acknowledged, doctors are faced with incomplete information about their health status. While LGBT populations often are combined as a single entity, each is a distinct population group with its own specific health needs. The experiences of LGBT individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs.”
HealthyPeople.gov notes, “LGBT individuals encompass all races and ethnicities, religions and social classes. LGBT individuals face health disparities linked to societal stigma, discrimination and denial of their civil and human rights. Discrimination against LGBT persons has been associated with high rates of psychiatric disorders, substance abuse and suicide. Experiences of violence and victimization are frequent for LGBT individuals, and have long-lasting effects on the individual and the community. Personal, family and social acceptance of sexual orientation and gender identity affects the mental health and personal safety of LGBT individuals.”
Why is LGBTQ health important?
Eliminating LGBT health disparities and enhancing efforts to improve LGBT health are necessary to ensure that LGBT individuals can lead long, healthy lives. The many benefits of addressing health concerns and reducing disparities include:
Reductions in disease transmission and progression
Increased mental and physical well-being
Reduced health care costs
Increased longevity
Efforts to improve LGBTQ health include:
Curbing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) with interventions that work
Implementing antibullying policies in schools
Providing supportive social services to reduce suicide and homelessness risk among youth
Appropriately inquiring about and being supportive of a patient’s sexual orientation to enhance the patient-provider interaction and regular use of care. Doctors should never assume their patient is heterosexual.
Providing medical students with access to LGBT patients to increase provision of culturally competent care
Efforts to address health disparities among LGBTQ persons include:
Expansion of domestic partner health insurance coverage
Establishment of LGBT health centers
Dissemination of effective HIV/STD interventions
Understanding LGBTQ health
Understanding LGBTQ health starts with understanding the history of oppression and discrimination that these communities have faced. For example, in part because bars and clubs were often the only safe places where LGBT individuals could gather, alcohol abuse and high rates of smoking have been ongoing problems. LGBT health requires specific attention from health care and public health professionals to address a number of disparities, including:
LGBT youth are 2 to 3 times more likely to attempt suicide
LGBT youth are more likely to be homeless
Lesbians are less likely to get preventive services for cancer
Gay men are at higher risk of HIV and other STDs, especially among communities of color
Lesbians and bisexual females are more likely to be overweight or obese
Transgender individuals have a high prevalence of HIV/STDs, victimization, mental health issues and suicide, and are less likely to have health insurance than heterosexual or LGB individuals
Elderly LGBT individuals face additional barriers to health because of isolation and a lack of social services and culturally competent providers
LGBT populations have the highest rates of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use
Continuing issues in LGBTQ health
A number of issues will need to continue to be evaluated and addressed over the coming decade, including:
Prevention of violence and homicide toward the LGBTQ community, especially the transgender population
Exploration of sexual/gender identity among youth
Need for a LGBTQ wellness model
Recognition of transgender health needs as medically necessary
LGBTQ people face greater health threats than their heterosexual peers, partly because of differences in sexual behavior and partly because of social and structural inequities, such as stigma and discrimination. As we celebrate the Pride events of this month, it’s important to recognize that there are special health care needs for the LGBTQ community. Taking the time to learn some of these health disparities is our first step to making our whole community safer and healthier. Accepting someone in your own family has a great positive impact on their physical and mental health and well-being.
Dr. Michael Caldwell is an Executive Health Consultant and is the former Dutchess County Commissioner of Health. Send comments to healthchief@yahoo.com. Twitter: @healthchief
This article was originally published by the Poughkeepsie Journal on June 13, 2015. To access the original article, click here: https://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/story/life/2015/06/12/mental-health-lgbtq-community/71126224/
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