LGBTI people have disproportionately high levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Ruth will describe some of these issues, and differences for different sub-groups including for example, gender diverse, and bisexual people.
She will also discuss the underlying social discrimination and marginalisation that often underlie these mental health issues. GPs have an important role to play in supporting LGBTI people and their mental health and resilience. Ruth will describe the many ways that we can work with our LGBTI patients, including understanding the social context, affirming diverse sexual and gender identities, providing supportive counselling, and referring to LGBTI inclusive services.
Presenter
Ruth McNair is an Honorary Associate Professor at the Department of General Practice, University of Melbourne and a general practitioner of an inner-urban general practice. She has clinical and research interests in lesbian and bisexual women’s mental health, sexual health, same-sex parenting, and LGBT health care and homelessness. She is the Co-Chairperson of the Victorian Government LGBTI Health and Human Services Working group and a member of the LGBTI Taskforce (2015-2019).