I am Human Too

Morris, M., Cooper, R. L., Ramesh, A., Tabatabai, M., Arcury, T. A., Shinn, M., ...Matthews-Juarez, P. (2019). Training to reduce LGBTQ-related bias among medical, nursing, and dental students and providers: a systematic review. BMC Medical Education, 19(1), NA. Retrieved Oct. 2019 from https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A600196151/AONE?u=s9004364&sid=AONE&xid=65a6f8f1 

The reality is that even though there is a strong push for patient equality, “biases among health care professions students and providers toward LGBTQ patients are common” (Morris, 2019),  as Matthew Morris found in his study “Training to reduce LGBTQ-related bias among medical, nursing, and dental students and providers: a systematic review” for BMC Medical.  A previous study conducted among first-year heterosexual medical students found that around half reported have explicit negative attitudes towards lesbian and gay people, while over 80% demonstrated more unconscious negative evaluations of LGBT patients (Morris, 2019). These biases are proven to have affected clinical assessments, medical treatment, and quality of care as well as a result in “preconceived notions about patient adherence, poor doctor-patient communication, and microaggressions, all of which can interfere with optimal care” (Morris, 2019). It’s evident that there’s the connection between queer youth not getting the medical attention that they need and the cause of it; they feel unsafe, and even if they do go, the care isn’t near adequate. Despite the painful evidence, Morris conducted a study in which medical professional students and providers were enrolled in programs that increased comfort levels working with LGBT patients and decreased anxiety levels. The applications utilized “scripted interview exercises, training in sexual history taking, small group discussions, role-play, and perspective-taking exercises” (Morris, 2019). The review found that the programs were effective in increasing knowledge about the community and related health care, increased comfort level regarding LGBT healthcare, and was effective at promoting tolerant attitudes towards queer patients. This study proves that there are ways to improve the medical settings so that LGBT youth will no longer be afraid and get the medical attention that they need. If similar programs were required for medical professionals or at least heavily encouraged, then we would be one step closer to patient equality, but not only that. Too many people fear the stigma of even going to get help, so in turn, they suffer in silence with their mental illness and sadly too often take their own lives. Dr. Montano explains that clinicians should always be on the lookout for suicidal behaviors in LGBT youth because, for many, clinicians are the only support they may have. If these programs are implemented, then people like Dr. Montano can start their work and catch the early signs of suicide, preventing the loss of so many beautiful people.

Far too often, schools are the source of stressors and increased anxieties for students. It could be by the hands of other students, staff, or a generally unsupportive environment that students don't feel comfortable in or safe. There are several ways that staff members can help to cultivate an inclusive and accepting school climate. Karys McEwen, an avid LGBT supporter and Australian librarian, advises staff members to remember that unsympathetic school climates can have a massively adverse effect on an LGBT teen's ability to succeed in school in her article “We go Together: How library staff can support LGBTIQ students in the school's library” (2018). She goes on to explain how such climates can damage their sense of belonging and even hurt their educational goals, which can lead to decreased attendance rates, lower levels of confidence, and reduced academic scores (McEwen, 2018). One of the major ways that staff members can help to foster a positive academic environment is with correct terminology and pronouns. Using the correct terms and asking about the correct pronouns show students that they have a trustworthy and accepting person to turn to when they need it. (Here’s a link to a glossary of LGBT terms) Aside from using the correct terms, providing students with materials that promote gender and sexual diversity is a huge step to promote an inclusive environment. These materials should include books that allow students to see themselves reflected in the stories because “to know that someone else shares our embarrassments, fears, doubts, longings... or if not shares them, has at least had the thought flitter across their mind--that is everything” (McEwen, 2018). Developing a community of tolerance and love can make a world of difference to a person who feels like the sky is permanently grey and stormy. Even if all homes and schools were perfect, we still have one more hurdle: the medical setting. 

Be more like Harry Styles and treat people with kindness. 

There are several ways that you, a caring human being, can be a part of the solution and the three most important places where you can do that is at home, at school, and in a medical setting.

 It's no secret that mental health has been a closed conversation, reserved for only behind doors so that no one else knows what's 'wrong' with you. The hushed tones have caused people to forgo seeing a medical professional and have even raised the suicide rates among the younger demographic. Even with the heightened social awareness, Sadie F. Dingfelder (2009) claims in her cover story “Stigma: Alive and Well” for the American Psychology Association, people still fall victim to the stigma and internalize the belief that they are incompetent, worthless, and irrational. This can lead to social isolation, a decrease in medication use, and even physical harm (Dingfelder, 2009). If taken into the perspective of the marginalized LGBT community, the links between mental health and their stigma are painfully clear, and the effects are tenfold when it comes to the youth in the LGBT community. Expert on gender minority youth Dr. Gerald Montano explains in his article “It does get better… with your help: preventing suicide”  queer youth are four times likely to have attempted suicide compared to their heterosexual counterparts, while nearly 50% of transgender youth have attempted suicide. If these staggering statistics and stories combined, it's clear to see the need to push for a systematic shift in opinions. 

Nonetheless, there are ways to fix this glamourization and help end the LGBT mental health crisis. By creating accepting family environments, inclusive school climates, and knowledgeable medical settings, caregivers and loved ones of LGBT people alike can help to lower the mental illness rates in the population and give the youth a chance at a happier and more successful life.