News

Terence Humphreys, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Director of LGBTIQ+ Health Australia was recently featured in QNews' October issue speaking on the ways LGBTIQ+ people are disproportionately impacted by poor mental health.

LGBTIQ+ Health Australia (LHA) has joined other leading mental health organisations in signing a joint statement promoting for evidence-based improvements to online safety. Australia’s leading mental health organisations believe the proposed social media ban will risk cutting young people across Australia off from mental health support, exposing them to new harms and leaving many without any support.

The Silver Rainbow program has assisted with the creation of these resources which provide guidance and activities to support connection with an LGBT+ person living with dementia overtime.

Their development was led by Dr. Louisa Smith at Deakin University and co-designed with six people who had visited LGBT+ people living with dementia over an extended period of time.

A central aim of these resources is that they will become a record of a growing friendship, and provide a useful tool to look back on as someone’s dementia changes.

Please find them below.

The term trans and gender diverse describes people whose gender differs from what was presumed for them at birth (sometimes referred to as “assigned at birth”).

Palliative care provides quality of life and comfort for someone who has a life-limiting illness and is expected to die.

Language is inclusive when we use words in ways that show our respect for how people describe their own relationships, genders and bodies. It is important to show this respect even when describing people who are not present.

The World Health Organisation defines elder abuse as something that happens where there is a relationship of trust between an older person and another person, and the other person does something that causes harm or distress to the older person.

LGBT older people are more likely to experience social isolation and loneliness because they are often separated from their family of origin.

Intersex refers to people who are born with sex characteristics that don’t fit medical norms for female or male bodies. There are around 30-40 different types of intersex variations recognised by doctors, as well as other types of physical diversity that fit this definition.

HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) attacks the immune system, and if left untreated, can make it harder for the body to fight infections and related diseases.

A ‘family of choice’ (or ‘chosen family’) is a group of people who are chosen by a person to be their family. They often include partners, ex-partners and close friends.

For many LGBT older people, their life experience as an LGBT person is important to them and a big part of who they are. It is often overlooked when they get diagnosed with dementia.

LGBT older people receiving aged care services may hide their true selves. This may be because they fear experiencing discrimination and that their unique needs will not be understood.

Rainbow Realities was launched on Tuesday 9 April at LGBTIQ+ Health Australia's 12th Health in Difference Conference in Canberra by The Hon Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health and Aged Care.