Individualized Health Care Services

Not only are some members of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) community stigmatized for not being heterosexual, some may also be stigmatized for having a mental disability such as depression. These mental health issues may be left untreated because they feel uncomfortable with the health care services available. 

The service needs for lesbians and gay men are different from mainstream needs. These different needs arise because of the impacts of stigma, exclusion and invisibility which results in internal and external experiences of oppression. (Duncan, Halton, Hampson, Krieger, & MacDonnell, 2000) The role of oppression is to create a feeling of unworthiness and not accept anyone who is not “normal.”  Societies idea of normalcy is completely absurd because everyone is different in some way.  Being that everyone is their own person, should have an impact on the way social services are carried out.  There should be different protocols when it comes to dealing with different types of people because our needs will not be met otherwise. 

If an immigrant woman makes an appointment to meet with a doctor to discuss the issue of depression she will be need a different type of help compared to a member of the LGBTQ community.  Although, the issue of depression can be similarly caused in both for much the same reasons there are still many differences held by these two individuals.  They may both feel unwelcome in the eyes of the public because of this idea of normalcy.  However, even though both these individuals issues of depression can be caused for relatively shared experiences (i.e. feeling out of place) the plan of action to treat their depression will and should be very different.

It is important for society to realize that each and every one of its members will be different and may even belong to different groups within society.  All public services should be mindful of these differences.  As with every social issue however, it is up to the members of society to make the changes needed.  Like other types of prejudice, sexual prejudice is an attitude; it is directed at a social group and its members; and it involves hostility or dislike.  (Ahmed, & Hammarstedt, 2007) Let’s hope people continue to educate themselves and positively change their attitudes so that all members of society can feel welcome, safe in their environments and obtain the adequate individualized care they deserve.

Alexis B.

References 

Ahmed, A., & Hammarstedt, M. (2007). Detecting discrimination against homosexuals: evidence from a field experiment on the internet. Economica, 76(303), 588-597.   

Duncan, K., Halton, J., Hampson, E., Krieger, C., & MacDonnell, J. Ontario Public Health Association, (2000). Improving the access to and quality of public health services for lesbians and gay men (2000-01 (PP) / 2000-02 (RES)). Retrieved from http://www.opha.on.ca/our_voice/ppres/papers/exec2000-01_pp.pdf