Social Issues Part Three
This week we dive even deeper into the social issues of the LGBT community. As a Health Science major and one that is very concerned with the well-being of my fellow student body,(and everyone else for that matter). I wanted to know what type of health issues were common and uncommon in LGBT, and if treatment is consistent and available. Many websites are biased and misleading, and many times just fake and unreliable. Wanting reliable sources for this topic, I turned my search to the database we have here on campus, as I was not disappointed. With countless journals at my disposal, I dove right in.
It came to no surprise that victimization has no boundaries and that everyone needs to be careful of when it comes to the “people” you meet on the internet.
“The main points of interest are online and in-person peer victimization (including generalized and bullying forms) and online and in-person sexual victimization (including generalized and sexual harassment forms).”(Ybarra, M.) LGBT youth were more likely to have online friends and to be more open with and console with then their in-person friends at providing emotional support. What is shocking is that peer victimization and unwanted sexual experiences were more common within the LGBT community than non-LGBT youth.
When researching health risks and differences in the different communities, the information was staggering. LGBT youth is more likely to become homeless. They also have a much higher risk to attempt suicide at a rate of three to one. LGBT populations have high levels of abusing tobacco, alcohol, and other drug use, and are less likely to get preventive services. Lesbians and bisexual women are more liable to be overweight or obese which can lead to heart disease or diabetes. Gay men are at a higher risk of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases, especially among ethnic communities. Specific to transgender individuals, a significantly higher prevalence of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, victimization, mental health issues, and suicide.
It was clear in many articles that the health care that is available to many of the people in the LGBT community comes through free clinics or public health services. It is not necessarily bad health care, just most of the time it is poorly funded, under staffed, and most of the time over crowded. Sometimes people wait for hours just to be told to come back tomorrow. The quality of the care itself might be not as thorough as a more expensive private practice or hospital. Not to mention that most of the clinics mentioned do not have a Psychologist or Psychiatrist on staff for those with thoughts of suicide. Here at CSUCI we have a fantastic facility with excellent care and someone on staff if one needs someone to talk to about issues.(Sage Hall)
The grim information was repeated over and over in journal after journal. The more I read about LGBT health risks and suicide rates the more emotional I became. When I decided to become a health-care practitioner I had a desire to help everyone that I can, no matter what. I can tell you that fire has a new fuel on it, and it will never stop burning.
Sources:
Carabez, R. , Pellegrini, M. , Mankovitz, A. , Eliason, M. , Ciano, M. , et al. (2015). “never in all my years…”: Nurses’ education about LGBT health. Journal of Professional Nursing : Official Journal of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, 31(4), 323-329.
Ybarra, M. , Mitchell, K. , Palmer, N. , & Reisner, S. (2015). Online social support as a buffer against online and offline peer and sexual victimization among u.s. lgbt and non-lgbt youth. Child Abuse & Neglect, 39, 123-136.
