HIV/AIDS and Mental Health among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations

2020 ◽  
pp. 393-405
Author(s):  
Molly Silvestrini ◽  
Colleen C. Hoff ◽  
Y. Darin Witkovic ◽  
Crystal Madriles
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
History Of ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
And Gender ◽  
Hiv Acquisition ◽  
Hiv Aids

HIV/AIDS is a disease that significantly affects the health outcomes of sexual and gender minorities (SGMs) and the LGBTQ community globally. HIV is frequently associated with mental health issues among many vulnerable populations, such as depression, anxiety, stigma, substance abuse, and discrimination. In addition, risk factors for HIV acquisition often include mental health problems, lack of social support, and experiences of stigma and discrimination. This chapter focuses on the history of HIV/AIDS, current HIV health disparities in SGM communities in the United States and globally, mental health among HIV-positive vulnerable and understudied populations, and future directions for the improvement of HIV prevention programs and mental health interventions. Understudied populations include women who have sex with women, transgender men, and SGM belonging to racial and ethnic minority groups. This chapter aims to summarize the interaction of HIV/AIDS and mental health over the past two decades in order to demonstrate the importance of this subject in current research.

scholarly journals Immigration and Gender as Social Determinants of Mental Health during the COVID-19 Outbreak: The Case of US Latina/os

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 6065
Author(s):  
Barbara Gomez-Aguinaga ◽  
Melanie Sayuri Dominguez ◽  
Sylvia Manzano
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Spillover Effects ◽  
The United States ◽  
Undocumented Immigrant ◽  
Structural Factors ◽  
Public Health Emergencies ◽  
And Gender

While men and women make up a similar number of COVID-19 cases, and are equally likely to know someone who has become ill due to the virus, the gendered and systemic implications of immigration during public health emergencies among minority groups in the United States are empirically underexplored. Using the SOMOS COVID-19 Crisis National Latino Survey, we conduct a series of intersectional analyses to understand the extent to which personal experiences with COVID-19, gendered structural factors, and spillover effects of US immigration policies impact the mental health of US Latina/os during a public health emergency. The results show that among Latinas, knowing an undocumented immigrant and someone ill with COVID-19 increases the probability of reporting worse mental outcomes by 52 percent. Furthermore, being a woman increases the probability of reporting the highest level of mental health problems by 30 percent among Hispanic people who know someone with COVID-19 and an undocumented immigrant. These findings indicate that the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak among US Latinas and Latinos are entrenched in gendered and systemic inequalities.

"I'm Not That Innocent": Recruiting Sexual and Gender Minorities for Rural Mental Health Research

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 10-14
Author(s):  
Cathleen Willging
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Health Resources ◽  
Mental Health Research ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽  
Hidden Populations ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
And Gender

There is a dearth of research, anthropological and otherwise, focused on the mental health needs of sexual and gender minorities in rural areas. The risk for mental illness is greater for such groups due to their repeated exposure to psychosocial stressors associated with discrimination, stigmatization, and violence. The consequences of such exposure may be exacerbated in rural areas, where mental health resources are typically insufficient for the general population. Ethnographic research can provide important insights into how sexual and gender minorities cope with mental health problems within rural settings where treatment options are limited. The methodological challenges of undertaking such research are substantial, and include lack of identification among potential participants with externally imposed social categories, such as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), and the problem of recruiting "hidden" populations to take part in studies on sensitive topics. When taking into account the geographical dispersion of LGBT people in rural areas, these challenges increase substantially.

Pregnant Victims of Intimate Partner Homicide in the National Violent Death Reporting System Database, 2003–2014: A Descriptive Analysis

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052094372
Author(s):  
Penelope K. Morrison ◽  
Chelsea Pallatino ◽  
Rachel A. Fusco ◽  
Tanya Kenkre ◽  
Judy Chang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Reporting System ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Violent Death ◽  
Intimate Partner Homicide ◽  
Service Engagement ◽  
History Of

Intimate partner homicide (IPH) is a leading cause of maternal mortality in the United States. However, very little information exists as to the circumstantial factors associated with IPH during pregnancy. We conducted a descriptive study of the demographic characteristics, psychosocial service engagement, and crises experiences (i.e., life and relationship stressors) among pregnant and nonpregnant victims to understand what differences, if any, exist in their risk profile for IPH. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) were used for this study. The NVDRS is a national opt-in tracking system of all violent deaths in the United States. Pregnant victims ( N = 293) were significantly more likely to be 5 years younger than nonpregnant victims, African American, and never married. Pregnant victims were more likely to be seen in the emergency room following the fatal incident. Nonpregnant victims ( N = 2,089) were significantly more likely to have suspected alcohol use at the time of their death. In strictly proportional terms, we also observed higher rates of mental health problems, a history of mental health treatment, and a reported history of intimate partner violence (IPV), crisis, or family problems among nonpregnant victims. A wider range of IPH-related risk factors (e.g. substance abuse) need to be included IPV assessments. Future studies should seek to develop effective interventions to prevent IPH, particularly among reproductive aged women.

Handbook of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Sexual and Gender Minorities

2019 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Dialectical Behavior Therapy ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minorities ◽  
Health Practice ◽  
Mental Health Practice ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
And Gender

The Handbook of Evidence-Based Mental Health Practice with Sexual and Gender Minorities represents the first compendium of evidence-based approaches to sexual and gender minority (SGM)-affirmative mental health practice. In the past several years, clinical researchers have begun developing and adapting evidence-based mental health treatment approaches to be affirmative of SGM individuals’ unique mental health. Because these approaches draw on research documenting unique psychosocial processes underlying SGM individuals’ mental health as well as adapt existing evidence-based treatments to impact these processes, these treatments can be considered evidence-based. Because these approaches promote effective coping with stigma-related stress and are often developed with feedback from SGM community members, these treatments can also be considered SGM-affirmative. This handbook compiles these approaches, including evidence-based treatments for specific populations within the SGM community (e.g., youth, transgender individuals, same-sex couples, parents, and bisexuals), for specific mental health problems (e.g., anxiety, depression, substance abuse, trauma, eating disorders, sexual health), and using novel modalities (e.g., group therapy; acceptance-based, dialectical behavior therapy; attachment-based, transdiagnostic therapy). Each chapter includes conceptual background and practical guidance so that mental health practitioners, researchers, educators, and students can both understand how to implement each of these approaches and develop future tests of their efficacy and the efficacy of other SGM-affirmative approaches.

Black U.S. Sexual and Gender Minority Mental Health

2020 ◽  
pp. 173-185
Author(s):  
Jonathan Mathias Lassiter ◽  
Lourdes Dolores Follins ◽  
Stacy W. Smallwood ◽  
Leo Wilton ◽  
Alishia Alexander ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
The United States ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Transgender People ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender ◽  
The Individual

This chapter provides a comprehensive and nuanced review and critique of the extant scholarship related to Black sexual and gender minority (SGM) mental health in the United States. The authors highlight the determinants of mental health, the prevalence of mental health problems and inequities, and protective and resilience factors related to Black SGM mental health within five different subgroups: transgender people, intersex people, bisexual people, lesbians, and gay/same-gender-loving men. An intersectional approach is used to draw attention to how racial, gender, socioeconomic, and sexual orientation identities at the individual level influence experiences of oppression at the structural level to synergistically impact mental health. The chapter concludes with a discussion of the gaps in the literature related to Black SGM mental health and recommendations for addressing them.

scholarly journals Integrating mental health in global initiatives for HIV/AIDS

2005 ◽  
Vol 187 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melvyn C. Freeman ◽  
Vikram Patel ◽  
Pamela Y. Collins ◽  
Jose M. Bertolote
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Psychosocial Interventions ◽  
World Health ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Infected People ◽  
Mental Health Interventions ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Aids

SummaryA more prominent role is needed for mental health interventions in global HIV/AIDS initiatives – such as the World Health Organization ‘3 by 5’ Initiative. Significant numbers of infected people have, or develop, mental health problems, and this often adversely impacts on HIV/AIDS treatment and adherence. Integrating psychiatric and psychosocial interventions should benefit both the mental and the physical health of people living with HIV/AIDS.

Adapting Evidence-Based Practice for Sexual and Gender Minorities

2019 ◽  
pp. 3-22
Author(s):  
John E. Pachankis ◽  
Steven A. Safren
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Evidence Based Practice ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Psychotherapy Process Research ◽  
Gender Minorities ◽  
Evidence Based Treatments ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Gender

This chapter reviews the history of scientific evidence regarding sexual and gender minority (SGM) mental health, from the unscientific, homophobic theories of the early 20th century to the pioneering research that paved the way for the accurate evidence on SGM mental health that researchers currently possess and continue to acquire. This chapter also discusses historical impediments to creating evidence-based treatments for SGM mental health, including a lack of clear treatment targets and treatment studies specific to SGM, as well as the recent progress toward overcoming these barriers as illustrated in the chapters throughout this handbook. The chapter offers several justifications for the widespread use and dissemination of evidence-based treatments with SGM, including ethical, professional, and scientific considerations in this pursuit. Finally, it provides suggestions for future research to advance evidence-based practice for SGM, spanning psychiatric epidemiology to psychotherapy process research.

The Interplay of Developing Morality and Gender Attitudes

2020 ◽  
pp. 724-745
Author(s):  
Rebecca S. Bigler ◽  
Lynn S. Liben
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Theory ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gender Nonconformity ◽  
Gender Attitudes ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Ethical Policy ◽  
History Of ◽  
And Gender ◽  
And Behavior

Morality and gender are intersecting realms of human thought and behavior. Reasoning and action at their intersection (e.g., views of women’s rights legislation) carry important consequences for societies, communities, and individual lives. In this chapter, the authors argue that children’s developing views of morality and gender reciprocally shape one another in important and underexplored ways. The chapter begins with a brief history of psychological theory and research at the intersection of morality and gender and suggests reasons for the historical failure to view gender attitudes through moral lenses. The authors then describe reasons for expecting morality to play an important role in shaping children’s developing gender attitudes and, reciprocally, for gender attitudes to play an important role in shaping children’s developing moral values. The authors next illustrate the importance and relevance of these ideas by discussing two topics at the center of contentious debate in the United States concerning ethical policy and practice: treatment of gender nonconformity and gender-segregated schooling. The chapter concludes with suggestions for future research.

scholarly journals Understanding and Promoting Racial Diversity in Healthcare Settings to Address Disparities in Pandemic Crisis Management

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 215013272110183
Author(s):  
Azza Sarfraz ◽  
Zouina Sarfraz ◽  
Alanna Barrios ◽  
Kuchalambal Agadi ◽  
Sindhu Thevuthasan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Disparities ◽  
Racial Discrimination ◽  
Clinical Training ◽  
Minority Groups ◽  
Mental Health Problems ◽  
Minority Group ◽  
Healthcare Delivery ◽  
The United States ◽  
Majority Group

Background: Health disparities have become apparent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When observing racial discrimination in healthcare, self-reported incidences, and perceptions among minority groups in the United States suggest that, the most socioeconomically underrepresented groups will suffer disproportionately in COVID-19 due to synergistic mechanisms. This study reports racially-stratified data regarding the experiences and impacts of different groups availing the healthcare system to identify disparities in outcomes of minority and majority groups in the United States. Methods: Studies were identified utilizing PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and PsycINFO search engines without date and language restrictions. The following keywords were used: Healthcare, raci*, ethnic*, discriminant, hosti*, harass*, insur*, education, income, psychiat*, COVID-19, incidence, mortality, mechanical ventilation. Statistical analysis was conducted in Review Manager (RevMan V.5.4). Unadjusted Odds Ratios, P-values, and 95% confidence intervals were presented. Results: Discrimination in the United States is evident among racial groups regarding medical care portraying mental risk behaviors as having serious outcomes in the health of minority groups. The perceived health inequity had a low association to the majority group as compared to the minority group (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.78; P = .007), and the association of mental health problems to the Caucasian-American majority group was low (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.58; P < .001). Conclusion: As the pandemic continues into its next stage, efforts should be taken to address the gaps in clinical training and education, and medical practice to avoid the recurring patterns of racial health disparities that become especially prominent in community health emergencies. A standardized tool to assess racial discrimination and inequity will potentially improve pandemic healthcare delivery.

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