M. Scott Knox’s Post

important insights on the state of LGBTQ public health in the U.S.

Did you know LGBTQ+ youth are 4 times more likely to experience a mental health condition than their peers? Discriminatory laws are making it worse! These laws block access to gender-affirming care, which can be lifesaving for transgender and nonbinary youth. ➡️ Read the article to learn more & take action! #MentalHealth #LGBTQ #BeAnAlly #ProtectTransKids #EqualityForAll #EndDiscrimination #YouAreValid #MentalHealthMatters #LoveIsLove #TransRightsAreHumanRights

Important work has been done to understand the health and well-being of LGBTQ+ populations. However, information about sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) is still missing from crucial datasets. This means that critical information is missing from data used to shape healthcare policy and priorities across sectors. Adding these demographic categories to datasets and analyses is a primary way that organizations can demonstrate commitment to health equity for LGBTQ+ people. Interested in learning more? Check out the Eidos Primer on LGBTQ+ Health Disparities. This informative primer explores the growing population of LGBTQ+ individuals in the US and the health disparities they face. It delves into the root causes of these disparities, such as discrimination, stress, and lack of access to culturally competent care. The primer then outlines steps towards achieving LGBTQ+ health equity, including increased data collection, research, and culturally competent interventions. Together, let's work towards a more equitable and inclusive future for all. Download the Primer here: https://lnkd.in/eUMsFd97

"Why the World of LGBTQ Health Doesn't Fit Under a Single Label" written in 2022 by the AHA is a great beginning read to understand the importance of learning the SDOH needs for each community within the broader LGBTQIA+. There are the larger factors that influence health for all LGBTQ+ people- mistrust in the healthcare system, hurtful assumptions, and lower insurance rates. Once research and education starts separating the letters and respective communities, physicians would learn so much more about their patients and community members would learn more about their health. https://lnkd.in/gp2Q_zXt

NEW: A survey conducted by KFF finds that LGBTQ+ people in America are twice as likely to experience discrimination in their health care >> https://lnkd.in/eREqZAg3 Despite the Affordable Care Act’s non-discrimination protections, structural inequities - such as the outright LGBTQ+ discrimination and stigma - still play a large role in health care accessibility and health inequities. While the Biden administration has taken steps to clarify protections against discrimination in health care based on sexual orientation and gender identity, essential health benefits (EHBs) standards in many states are silent on coverage for things like gender-affirming care. Expanding EHBs to include services like gender affirming care, is one of the first step in addressing these inequities. Join us in asking the Biden administration to expand EHBs >> https://lnkd.in/e7gjmTQv

The Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth Centre (SARAVYC) are a team of health researchers from the University of British Columbia working to improve the well-being of LGBTQ+ lives. It is a priority for us to make sure that the voices of trans people are heard in the process. Therefore, we are conducting an anonymous online survey. The Principal Investigator is Dr. Elizabeth Saewyc, whom you can reach at elizabeth.saewyc@ubc.ca. The survey may take up to an hour (60 minutes) to complete. Questions ask about your physical and emotional health. Participants can choose not to answer any question, or stop the survey at any time. If you’d be willing to reshare our posts, drop a note in your next newsletter, or pass along the information directly to eligible youth, we would be grateful! You could also forward the attached poster and this announcement through your networks (please keep in mind your organizations’ email policies if you choose to forward the email). If you want to link folks directly to the survey, you can share a post from our social media (below) or copy and paste this link: https://lnkd.in/gy8tu-Am You can find us on our socials here: Instagram: https://lnkd.in/gbyyXVpV Facebook: https://lnkd.in/gKZ4C3yK LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/ghBngrCC If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the Stigma and Resilience Among Vulnerable Youth office at saravyc@nursing.ubc.ca.

We at Hello Alpha are keenly aware that members of the LGBTQ+ community, including some of our employees, experience discrimination in health care settings which is heightened in the current political environment where regulations are under attack. Discrimination discourages members of the LGBTQ community from seeking care. LGBTQ+ people may have trouble finding alternative services if they are turned away. Members of the LGBTQi community don’t have to worry about being mistreated, harassed, or denied service outright at Alpha. We recognize and celebrate individual differences, provide an affordable and accessible solution, assign a dedicated primary care provider to each patient who partners with the patient to develop a shared treatment plan. We practice a whole person care model that includes a comprehensive Alpha Health check-in. In addition to gathering information about a patient’s medical history, we screen people for adverse childhood events and social determinants of health (SDoH). We help navigate patients who report SDoH responses such as suicidality, unsafe living situations, and domestic violence to nearby community services, as needed. Read more about how Hello Alpha supports LGBTQ+ health. #LGBTQ #LGBTQhealth #womenshealth #employeebenefits #employeehealth #socialdeterminants #healthcare #DEI #benefitsstrategy #benefitsadministration #HRleaders

LGBTQ+ youth face unique challenges that require understanding and action from healthcare providers. Here’s a look at these challenges and how healthcare professionals can make a positive impact: LGBTQ+ youth are at a higher risk for depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts due to stigma and discrimination. **Supportive Response**: Providers can offer affirming mental health services and connect youth with LGBTQ+-specific counseling resources. Many LGBTQ+ youth hesitate to seek medical help for fear of judgment or mistreatment. **Supportive Response**: Creating a non-judgmental, welcoming environment is crucial for encouraging them to access the healthcare they need. There is often a gap in healthcare providers' understanding of LGBTQ+ specific health needs. **Supportive Response**: Ongoing education and training in LGBTQ+ health issues are vital for healthcare providers. Transgender and non-binary youth may face significant stress from gender dysphoria and the challenges of seeking gender-affirming treatments. **Supportive Response**: Providers should educate themselves about gender-affirming care and advocate for accessible treatments. External pressures from bullying and rejection can lead to serious mental and physical health issues. **Supportive Response**: Healthcare professionals can offer support groups or therapy sessions that address these social stresses. Healthcare providers have the power to significantly impact the well-being of LGBTQ+ youth by being informed, inclusive, and proactive in their care approaches. #LGBTQYouth #InclusiveHealthcare #SupportLGBTQ #MentalHealthMatters #TransHealth #SafeSpaces #HealthcareEquality #LGBTQAdvocacy #YouthSupport #PrideInCare

“Trust between a provider and a patient is so incredibly crucial and will directly impact the quality of care that is provided. An uninformed, unaffirming or hostile environment or even the perception of such an environment is going to deter LGBTQ+ people from seeking the care that they need and deserve. Our community will literally delay care in order to avoid that unsafe environment. And one thing I always want to bring up here is that we're not simply talking about LGBTQ+ people delaying or avoiding their annual checkup or routine screening, even though those are important things. We're talking about all types of care, including lifesaving care like cancer care, like chemotherapy.” -Alex Sheldon, the Executive Director of GLMA, on the significance of affirming environments in healthcare settings. Listen to the full Chilmark Research's ChilCast: Healthcare Tech Talks episode to learn more!

Did you know LGBTQ+ people are 1.2 times more likely to be primary caregivers and 3.5 times more likely to provide care for friends and chosen family? Check out this fact sheet from the Center for Health Care Strategies to learn more about the policy needs, challenges and opportunities for LGBQ+ caregivers. https://lnkd.in/gqTVU8Qm