Assignment 4A – Forming an Opportunity Belief

I believe there is an unmet need in regard to the mental health disparities in those identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. It is important to note that identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning is not a mental health disparity on its’ own, the societal pressures and fear of discrimination that may come with being a part of the LGBTQ community, can result in depression, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal thoughts. In an effort to move towards ideal health equity conditions, implementing more integrative methods at an early age to teach acceptance and aim to reduce discrimination and prejudice against those in the LGBTQ community. However, in order to reach full health equity for the LGBTQ community it takes a collaborative effort medically, but ultimately socially. For example, if public elementary, middle, and high schools implemented more mental health involvement to create a cohesive learning environment with a collaborative effort to embrace and accept the LGBTQ youth community, this could drastically decrease the vulnerability of these individuals to certain mental health disparities. Progress could be made through early introduction to the ideas of acceptance and tolerance, as well as an all-inclusive sexual education that includes a more diverse sexual education, as opposed to the exclusively heterosexual material taught to a majority of youth this day in age. Bear in mind, The American Psychiatric Association states, “All major professional mental health organizations have affirmed that homosexuality is NOT a mental disorder. Being transgender or gender variant
is NOT a mental illness and does not imply any impairment in judgment, stability, reliability, or general social or vocational capabilities.”

The prototypical customer is anyone who identifies as LGBTQ+.

#1: Early-twenties Asian, female, identifies as lesbian.

• Did you know that LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse compared with heterosexual individuals? 
• “Yes, sadly” 
• Did you know that up until 2015, gender identity and sexual orientation had no differentiation in nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies? 
• “No, I had no idea, that is crazy because these are the institutions put in place to stop discrimination and they are even more discriminatory by not recognizing the difference.” 
• Have you ever experienced any kind of discrimination for identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning throughout your life time? 
• “When my girlfriend and I were walking by these construction workers they started shouting derogatory remarks. It was very uncomfortable.” 
• Did you know that there is a strong correlation between sexual orientation and considering attempting suicide; 2.3% of individuals that identify as heterosexual have considered attempting suicide, 4.4% of individuals that identify as gay or lesbian have considered attempting suicide, 7.4% of individuals that identify as bisexual have considered suicide, and 30.8% of people who identify as transgender have considered attempting suicide? 
• “Wow, about 1 in 3 trans people have been suicidal, that is shocking.” 
• Are you worried for your children if they identify as LGBTQ+ or for having a LGBTQ+ parent? 
• “I think I might be worried about being an LGBTQ+ parent and maybe they won’t be able to connect with me on certain things. I also worry about not providing a father figure, if I have sons.” 
• Do you feel like if growing up schools implemented more mental health involvement to create a cohesive learning environment with a collaborative effort to embrace and accept the LGBTQ+ youth community through early introduction to the ideas of acceptance and tolerance, as well as an all-inclusive sexual education that includes a more diverse sexual education, as opposed to the exclusively heterosexual material taught to a majority of youth this day in age, your life or outlook would have been different in anyway? 
• “Yes, 100%, they don’t tell you anything in school it’s screwed up how much they leave out, these concerns are important and need to be taught to increase acceptance.”

REFLECTION: There is a fear that a child might be missing out on a certain role model, but they agree that sexual education and mental health in the LGBTQ+ community is a concern that needs more light shed on it.

#2: Young college Caucasian male, who identifies as bisexual.

• Did you know that LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse compared with heterosexual individuals? 
• “No, I did not know that.” 
• Did you know that up until 2015, gender identity and sexual orientation had no differentiation in nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies? 
• “Huh? Really? That is bizarre it was so recent, I would’ve figured before then.” 
• Have you ever experienced any kind of discrimination for identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning throughout your life time? 
• “I have not personally, but I did hear about a serial killer in Jacksonville that was targeting transgender people, I think it is now the transgender murder capital of America.” 
• Did you know that there is a strong correlation between sexual orientation and considering attempting suicide; 2.3% of individuals that identify as heterosexual have considered attempting suicide, 4.4% of individuals that identify as gay or lesbian have considered attempting suicide, 7.4% of individuals that identify as bisexual have considered suicide, and 30.8% of people who identify as transgender have considered attempting suicide? 
• “No, those statistics are eye-opening.” 
• Are you worried for your children if they identify as LGBTQ+ or for having a LGBTQ+ parent? 
• “I mean I feel like society is constantly changing and improving, we are getting better educated and more accepting, as well as the LGBTQ+ society is growing as well.” 
• Do you feel like if growing up schools implemented more mental health involvement to create a cohesive learning environment with a collaborative effort to embrace and accept the LGBTQ+ youth community through early introduction to the ideas of acceptance and tolerance, as well as an all-inclusive sexual education that includes a more diverse sexual education, as opposed to the exclusively heterosexual material taught to a majority of youth this day in age, your life or outlook would have been different in anyway? 
• “Yea, I feel like sex education in schools could be much better.” 

REFLECTION: There are some people who aren’t aware with the overall facts about the community but, are informed with current events and find that sexual education could be improved upon to make the future generations more accepting and inclusive.

#3: African-American, mid-twenties, identifies as transgender female

• Did you know that LGBTQ+ individuals are 2.5 times more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and substance misuse compared with heterosexual individuals? 
• “Yes, I personally suffer from occasional depression” 
• Did you know that up until 2015, gender identity and sexual orientation had no differentiation in nondiscrimination and anti-harassment policies? 
• “No, that is confusing if I’m at work and have someone harass me for who I am, I wouldn’t even be able to fill out a report accurately stating what’s really happened, up until a couple years ago?” 
• Have you ever experienced any kind of discrimination for identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning throughout your life time? 
• “Definitely, but my family was very supportive in my identity and that really helped me.” 
• Did you know that there is a strong correlation between sexual orientation and considering attempting suicide; 2.3% of individuals that identify as heterosexual have considered attempting suicide, 4.4% of individuals that identify as gay or lesbian have considered attempting suicide, 7.4% of individuals that identify as bisexual have considered suicide, and 30.8% of people who identify as transgender have considered attempting suicide? 
• “Yes, the transgender community suffers from a lot of hatred from society and internal pain.” 
• Are you worried for your children if they identify as LGBTQ+ or for having a LGBTQ+ parent? 
• “Yes, I am worried because I don’t want them to be targeted by mean kids, because kids can be mean.” 
• Do you feel like if growing up schools implemented more mental health involvement to create a cohesive learning environment with a collaborative effort to embrace and accept the LGBTQ+ youth community through early introduction to the ideas of acceptance and tolerance, as well as an all-inclusive sexual education that includes a more diverse sexual education, as opposed to the exclusively heterosexual material taught to a majority of youth this day in age, your life or outlook would have been different in anyway? 
• “Without a doubt, a comprehensive sexual education including diversity, acceptance and inclusivity would be great for how we mold our future generation.” 

REFLECTION: From personal experience this individual could relate to the importance of these concerns and agrees with the value of teaching children tolerance and acceptance.

SUMMARY: In recent years there has been a drastic movement in a positive direction with the emergence of public and scientific awareness of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning, issues and lives. It is agreed by the prototypical customers, that improving and broadening our education for the increased mental health risks that LGBTQ+ individuals face and teaching acceptance and tolerance, could solve this unmet need. However, in order to fully remove mental health disparities in this community it will take concerted efforts not only by those in the professional and educational communities but also from society as a whole.