Health Disparities and Challenges Faced by LGBTIQ+ Individuals in Australia
Introduction
Discrimination is difficult to be removed completely from any society and this report discusses the stigma and community barriers that the LGBTIQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer) in Australia face in areas of their mental health, sexual health and socio-economic inequalities. There are studies that have proved that that structural stigma and sexual health outcomes are related to each other and causing trouble especially for same sex partners. LGBTQI+ Australians are continuously experiencing human rights challenges and poor health conditions in comparison to than their heterosexual peers having major health disparities and wellbeing profiles (Saxby, 2022). This report discusses the main factors of health disparity between the LGBTQI+ Australians and the mainstream community and reasons why the former community suffers more health concerns in relation to mental and sexual health and gaps between them in the society. Further, it also discusses ways to address these gaps from the side of the Australian government as well as the LGBTQI+ community as a whole followed by a general conclusion on the overall findings of the report.
How healthy are LGBTI people in Australia?
The National LGBTIQ Health Alliance updated in the year 2020 that there are many LGBTIQ who are staying healthy and happy lives, but the research says that this community is associated to have poor mental health conditions and as a result are highly associated to suicidal behaviors than the mainstream community (Saxby, 2020). This is because all these health conditions are in direct relation to stigma experience, discrimination, abuse and prejudice as they are LGBTIQ. These people are less likely to visit the doctor and take up few pathology services incase they have to. They are also seen to be using more antidepressants and anti anxiety medicines and have disability reports often.
There are recent data from 2023 on LGBTQ+ individuals in Australia who are facing massive poor health outcomes in comparison to the general population where they are more likely to have mental health issues like anxiety and depression and suicidal rates and attempts are higher here. They are also seen to have high rates of substance abuse like binge drinking, drugs, smoking and all these are related to high rates of mental health issues (Bretherton, 2021). These individuals are more likely to delay in seeking any type of health care services because of facing the fear of discrimination from the healthcare providers. Even if they seek medical services, then there is poor management given to them because they belong to this particular community, which is not much appreciated and acceptable by the Australian society, and as a result this gives rise to poor management of their acute chronic conditions. Transgender and diverse individuals are facing high barriers to access the gender affirming healthcare services and all this gives rise to low level physical and mental health outcomes. The LGBTQ+ individuals who belong especially from racial or minority backgrounds are seen to be reporting high level of minority stress, experiencing stigma and social isolation and discriminations and all these give negative impact on their overall mental as well as physical health (Perales, 2018).
Health gaps between the LGBTIQ+ and the mainstream community
There is data that shows major gap of health measures amongst the LGBTIQ population in Australia where they are double the time likely to experience anxiety, depression and other types of mental health issues in comparison to heterosexual adults. More than 16% of them also report of attempting suicide in comparison to 3% of the general community, which is a major setback. In terms of their physical health, LGBTIQ+ have greater rates of chronic conditions like cancer, HIV/AIDS and cardiovascular diseases with transgender having poor physical health in comparison to the normal adults (Renner, 2021). Around 33% of the LGBTIQ+ Australians are into binge drinking in comparison to half of the percentage of heterosexual Australians, which is again more than half gap of population. Using illicit drugs is thrice high amongst the LGBTIQ+ adults in comparison to the mainstream community and 20% of LBTTIQ+ people are avoiding delay in getting medical care because of fear of getting discriminated from the health care providers. Transgender are facing high barriers to access any type of gender affirming care and mostly seen to be delaying routine of their preventive care.
LGBTIQ+ in Australia are going through high rate of psychological distress where 1 in 6 are having reported to get high levels when compared amongst the general population with only 1 in 10 having it. Further, young LGBTIQ+ in Australia are 5 to 6 times more willing to attempt a suicide in comparison to normal population and depression or anxiety disorders are 2 to 3 times common. Their physical health suffers with HIV/AIDS diagnosis, which is 30 times high for the gay or bisexual men in comparison to the heterosexual men and higher possibility of cardiovascular diseases and deadly diseases like cancer and face barriers to access preventive healthcare services like cancer screenings (Moagi, 2021).
The social determinants of health is worse when it comes to LGBTIQ+ In Australia where they experience high rates of poverty, unemployment, homesickness, interpersonal violence which all can affect negatively to their health in comparison to the general population. The biggest causes to poor LGBTIQ+ health issues are social isolation, stigma, stress and race or disability, which only help to increase these disparities in them. All these if we see in comparison to the mainstream community and general population, mostly everyone here are having proper access to healthcare services because they do not fear their position in the society which is completely normal and they do not fear any type of discrimination in the Australian society (Mcnair, 2006).
Potential reasons / causes for the disparity of health indicators between the LGBTIQ+ and mainstream community
Overall, the research above data above highlights the fact that there is an urgent need to give priority to LGBTIQ+ and its wellbeing and there needs to be right type of policies and interventions in place to get more equitable outcomes. The main cause of health disparities between the LGBTIQ+ in Australia and the mainstream community is the experience of stress, stigma and social isolations that make this community more incompetent in comparison to the mainstream community. These LGBTIQ+ individuals get involved with race and ethnic disparities that make them face more challenges that impact them negatively in their health and mental well-being. This is systemic in equalities that need to be dealt with a multi-pronged approach that involves policy reforms and empowerment of community and it is such an issue that needs more action and attention that it is getting currently by the Australian government (Lucas, 2023). The government will have to make sure that it is expanding access of healthcare and social services to LGBTIQ+ in Australia and puts in place all types of anti-discrimination policies. It should raise more awareness by the help of public education programs and campaigns and increase the overall funding for this community. Lastly, the government can integrate LGBTIQ+ in the health medical curriculum and training methods and continued community empowerment, as it is a big issue that deserves much more attention that being actually given presently. Their socio economic status gets adversely affected because of all these and they are completely ignored by the general society as a result of their belonging to this community. The social determinants of health is worse when it comes to LGBTIQ+ In Australia where they experience high rates of poverty, unemployment and affect their overall socio-economic status in the Australian society (Lucas, 2023).
Conclusion
The health disparity between LGBTIQ+ in Australia and mainstream community is severe in terms of mental and sexual health and both are the causes here, the community and also the government. So, both of them have to do their part to overcome this health disparity, which is affecting their daily working and also their daily lives, and as a whole the Australian economy is suffering. The community needs to overcome their fear and stigma in this regards and government will have to make sure that it is expanding access of healthcare and social services to LGBTIQ+ in Australia and puts in place all types of anti-discrimination policies. They can launch public campaigns awareness that can help to reduce stigma and pass on anti discriminatory laws that can help to protect the LGBTIQ+ community living in their country. Both of them need to realize this that this is an issue, which is much bigger than it sounds, and this needs to be addressed with collective efforts together in Australia (Saxby, 2020). There is still a major portion of work that needs to be done by both to achieve equitable health results and there are more research-taking place currently with more community level engagement needed to move forward in this regard.
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