Mental Health Workforce Knowledge about LGBTIQ Identities and Related Responsiveness: A Mixed Methods Approach

LGBTIQ people are at greater risk of mental health challenges, compared to the general population, and are overrepresented in mental health services. Past research has sought to understand how mental health workforce rate their knowledge to meet the needs of LGBTIQ consumers. However, this past research has largely aggregated the LGBTIQ identities, despite evidence that rates of mental health challenges vary within the LGBTIQ community. Using semi-structured interviews, this study sought to explore how seven mental health staff members from an Australian public health service rated and described their knowledge to responsively meet the needs of the different LGBTIQ identities. While participants tended to rate and describe themselves as having some knowledge about most of the LGBTIQ identities, there was a divide between sexual orientation, gender identities and intersex variations, with the former typically being rated and described as being better understood. This is the first known study to place central focus on disaggregating the LGBTIQ identities in mental health research and provides initial insights into how mental health workforce rate and describe their knowledge for nuanced and responsive practice. LGBTIQ people have higher rates of mental health challenges psychological distress, self-harm, suicidality and suicide attempts compared to the hetero- and cis-normative community. Distress and mental health needs are highest though for trans and gender diverse people, followed by bisexual men and women. This study sought to talk with members of the mental health workforce about their knowledge to meet the needs of diverse LGBTIQ people. When teasing out knowledge and confidence areas, the staff interviewed rated and described themselves as being more knowledgeable about issues affecting sexual orientation than gender identities. This suggests that consciousness raising, ally work and training could be considered to better support staff to be well oriented and responsive to meet the needs of trans people, in particular, when they access health services.