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Barriers and enablers to mental health help seeking of sexual, gender, and erotic minorities: A systematic literature review

Citation

Reynish, T and Hoang, H and Bridgman, H and Easpaig, BNG, Barriers and enablers to mental health help seeking of sexual, gender, and erotic minorities: A systematic literature review, Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health pp. 1-22. ISSN 1935-9705 (2022) [Refereed Article]

Copyright Statement

© 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.

DOI: doi:10.1080/19359705.2022.2036666

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual, gender, and erotic minorities experience oppressions that psychologically harm and impact help seeking. The aim of this review was to integrate available evidence on the uptake, barriers, and facilitators of mental health help seeking in sexual, gender, and erotic minorities.

Method: Systematic searches were conducted in CINAHL, Medline, and Scopus for peer-reviewed articles and in Google for gray literature using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines. Studies published in English in Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries between 2008 and 2018 regarding sexual, gender, and erotic minorities older than 18 years were eligible. Quality assessments were conducted and extracted data were analyzed thematically.

Result: Ninety documents were included in the review. Uptake is generally greater among sexual, gender, and erotic minorities, but worse in those who experience intersecting oppressions. Barriers to care manifest systemically, in services, and in individual mental health professionals (MHP) and contribute to psychological distress and impede help seeking. Protective factors (resilience, inclusion) and trained MHP counter these barriers.

Conclusion: Despite the general prevalence and risk of mental illness among sexual, gender, and erotic minorities due to external, modifiable oppressions, opportunities for inclusive psychological care exist.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Keywords:Mental health care, kink, LGBTIQA+, mental health services, gender identity
Research Division:Health Sciences
Research Group:Health services and systems
Research Field:Mental health services
Objective Division:Health
Objective Group:Public health (excl. specific population health)
Objective Field:Mental health
UTAS Author:Reynish, T (Ms Tamara Reynish)
UTAS Author:Hoang, H (Dr Ha Hoang)
UTAS Author:Bridgman, H (Dr Heather Bridgman)
ID Code:150296
Year Published:2022
Web of Science® Times Cited:1
Deposited By:UTAS Centre for Rural Health
Deposited On:2022-06-07
Last Modified:2023-01-12
Downloads:0

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