We’re continuing our conversations about the findings of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. These findings will reshape mental health services, not just in Victoria but potentially across Australia.
The focus of this episode is on the recommendations for reform specific to LGBTIQ+ mental health services.
For the LGBTIQ+ community, there’s “diversity within diversity” – for example First Nations queer people, queer people with a disability – and to provide genuine help, services need to understand and support intersectionality.
Reform is even more pressing with the COVID-19 pandemic. This further highlights the urgent need for a redesign of Victoria’s mental health system that is co-designed by the people who use it.
We invited Karen Field, CEO Drummond Street Services, which also incorporates Stepfamilies Australia and Queerspace and Carolyn Gillespie, Director of Clinical Services at Thorne Harbour Health (formerly the Victorian AIDS Council) to talk about what reform means for mental health care for the LGBTIQ+ community.
Services like Drummond Street Services and Thorne Harbour Health see firsthand that LGBTIQ+ people experience higher rates of mental health issues than the general population. Issues include anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation. The mental health service system currently in place is not always a system that’s safe for them.
In fact, Karen Field says that during the past 12 months, acute mental health and suicidal ideation presentations trebled at Drummond Street Services compared to the previous financial year. This is an experience that has been seen across LGBTIQ+ health care providers.
The co-host for this episode is Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO of ermha365.
Content note: If you’ve been affected by anything you’ve heard in this episode you can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or go to www.lifeline.org.au
For more info on services for LGBTIQ+ people:
Queerspace – supports focused on relationships, families, parenting and young people
Thorne Harbour Health – a community-controlled organisation, governed by its members, and working for sex, sexuality and gender diverse communities.
Rainbow Door – a free service for the LGBTIQA+ community, you do not need a referral to use this service.