EFECTS ON SERVICES:Mental Health Services (3 surveys several years ago)

1. Actual homophobia

2. Lack of knowledge

3. Inappropriate treatment

4. Inaccessible services

Actual Homophobia

Refusal of treatment Homophobic acts Physical abuse Verbal abuse Sexual abuse Harassment Violence Rape

Lack of Knowledge

Ignorance of effects of homophobia Ignorance of effects of minority stress Misdiagnosis Insufficient training As I go through, please make a note if you

think the point is relevant to your service

Inappropriate Treatment

Negative responses to coming out Attempts to cure Attitudes of staff Lack of privacy Sexuality seen purely as sexual Inappropriate questioning Insensitive interviewing Inappropriate use of language

Inappropriate Treatment…

•Pathologising sexual orientation•Psychiatric referrals•Refusing to refer to LGB services•Ignoring partners•Enforced HIV test•Complaints not investigated

Inaccessible Services

Fear of disclosing sexuality Feeling vulnerable, ignored, disbelieved Fear of discrimination and prejudiced treatment Fear of disclosure to other users Fear of physical and verbal abuse Fear of rejection Dependent on therapeutic communities, residences

and families who are homophobic and unaware of needs

Progress? PACE Where to turn? 2010 23% LGBT users experienced negative response to them being LGBT 40% of LGBT youth services currently supporting suicidal young

person described relationship with CAMHS as poor or very poor 22% of LGBT community services described relationship with

AMHS as poor or very poor 34% of mainstream services aware of having done specific training on

LGBT awareness 31% of mainstream mental health services monitoring sexual

orientation, 21% trans Of 121 strategic leads for suicide prevention only 28 responded to

survey. Of these, 7 able to cite a specific activity targeting LGBTs as priority

Feedback

Were any points relevant to your service? Write on flip chart Who will take responsibility for feeding

back to your management? (both good and bad)

Preventing suicide in England 2012 LGBTs one of groups identified for whom a

tailored approach to their mental health is necessary if suicide risk is to be reduced

Staff in health and care services, education and voluntary sector need to be aware of higher rates of mental distress, substance misuse, suicidal behaviour and ideation and self harm amongst LGBTs

NHS Training video

What do you want from the NHS?