• LGBTQ+ populations face disproportionately high risks of

  • Disabilities (17)

  • Eating disorders (2)

  • Depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, and other mental health concerns (7, 8, 12-15)

  • Substance abuse (7, 16, 17)

  • Sexually transmitted infections, including (7, 16, 17) which is known to impact cognition and occupational performance (29)

  • Poorer overall health (7, 8, 12-15)​

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  • LGBTQ+ people of color are at increased risk of many health problems (14). 

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• These health disparities are caused in part by minority stress (8), and in part by the fact that LGBTQ+ populations have less access to quality healthcare services than the general population (7, 12-15, 18-20). The barriers to accessing healthcare services include financial problems due to discriminatory hiring practices (10), lack of health insurance due to discriminatory policies or unemployment (10, 20), and a widespread lack of education and cultural awareness among healthcare providers (18, 20-22).

 

• Consequences of a lack of LGBTQ+ education and cultural awareness among healthcare providers include:

  • LGBTQ+ patients frequently find themselves educating healthcare practitioners on their medical needs (23).

  • Many LGBTQ+ individuals have reported negative interactions with clinicians, citing cultural incompetence and even hostility and harassment on the part of the providers (7, 16).

  • Many avoid seeking necessary healthcare services altogether for fear of receiving inadequate care, which exacerbates the health disparities that they face (7).

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Click here for LGBTQ+ cultural awareness resources for healthcare providers and educators

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This page last updated: 2018