Mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review

Citation:

Christopher Dietzel, Bamidele Bello, Brittany O’Shea, Jessie Cullum & Matthew Numer (2023): Mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the COVID-19 pandemic: a scoping review, Advances in Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/18387357.2023.2248299

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyse available literature on the mental health of LGBTQ+ people during the

COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: For this scoping review, six electronic databases were searched in three broad topic areas (the COVID-19 pandemic,

LGBTQ+ people, mental health) in April 2022. The search yielded 4,285 studies, and after screening them, 61 studies were included

in the final review, which were thematically analysed.

Results: Results were organised according to four themes: comparative effects of the pandemic on LGBTQ+ and

heterosexual cisgender people’s mental health; mental health impacts; differences in the mental health among LGBTQ+ people;

and protective and risk factors. LGBTQ+ people’s mental health was disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, particularly

when compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. Some sub-populations of LGBTQ+ people were impacted more than

others, such as bisexual, transgender, non-binary, and gender-diverse people. Depression, anxiety, and stress/distress were the

most salient mental health issues, though loneliness, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and COVID-related fears were also prevalent.

LGBTQ+ people used substances, social media, dating apps, and pornography to cope with the pandemic.

Discussion: Gaps in the literature and study limitations are

identified, and recommendations for policy, health services, and

future research are offered.

Read the full-paper Here

HIV/AIDS and the public health paradox: A poststructural discourse analysis of the impact of HIV Messaging on gay men in Nova Scotia.

Citation

Numer, M., Gahagan, J., Brown, M., & Atkinson, S. (2017). HIV/AIDS and the public health paradox: A poststructural discourse analysis of the impact of HIV Messaging on gay men in Nova Scotia. The International Journal of Health, Wellness and Society, 7(3), 91-104. DOI: 10.18848/2156-8960.

Abstract

Three decades of public health and health promotion policies and programs, in Nova Scotia, have aimed to reduce the rate of new HIV infections. Yet, gay men in this province continue to experience the highest rates of HIV transmission and have the highest proportion of people living with this disease in Canada. In this paper, the authors employ a Foucauldian conceptual framework and a qualitative post-structural discourse analysis to examine the role of public health in HIV messaging and how this has shaped our knowledge and understanding of gay men in the modern age of HIV/AIDS. Seventeen HIV activists in Nova Scotia were interviewed, and the transcripts are the textual source of the discourse analysis. An investigation of local public health efforts can illustrate the impact of the often-unseen dimensions of power and also the unintended consequences of health messaging on target populations. The findings suggest that public health efforts aimed at HIV prevention and stigma reduction are neither apolitical nor neutral. Rather, while these public policy efforts are aimed at HIV prevention, by attempting to regulate sexual subjectivities, they have become a form of discourse that has entered into the subject experience of gay men. This paper explores some of the ways in which public health HIV discourse impacts the subject experience by examining the effects of mainstreaming HIV messaging, sanitizing messaging for public consumption, and avoiding candid discussions about gay men’s sexual practices in the context of public health.

https://doi.org/10.18848/2156-8960/CGP/v07i03/91-104

A phenomenological inquiry of social support in relation to health and wellbeing among rural queer female youth.

Citation

Cusak, E., & Numer, M. (2012). A phenomenological inquiry of social support in relation to health and wellbeing among rural queer female youth. The International Journal of Interdisciplinary Social Sciences: Annual Review, 6(4), 35-48. DOI: 10.18848/1833-1882/CGP/v06i04/52067.

Abstract

Introduction: This phenomenological study explores the intersection of social support, rural location and health and wellbeing among self-identified queer female youth. Social support networks can be a protective factor for queer youth by mitigating the effects of discrimination, and influencing health-related behaviors (Saewyc, 2009; Von Ah et al., 2004). Living rurally may present unique challenges for queer youth in fostering strong social connections (Poon & Saewyc, 2009). Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the experiences of social support in relation to overall health and wellbeing among queer female youth living in rural communities. Methods: Data were collected from in-depth interviews with self-identified queer female university students in Halifax, Nova Scotia with varied ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The participants’ experiences of social support were analyzed through the process of reduction for significance in relation to health and wellbeing. Findings: Emergent themes including hostile school environments, family conflict, supportive friendships and rural communities were associated with participants’ health and wellbeing. Discussion: The findings from this study identify unique social challenges to guide further investigation and to inform inclusive health promotion policy and program development to foster social support and contribute to the overall health and wellbeing of queer female youth.

https://doi.org/10.18848/1833-1882/CGP/v06i04/52067