IRP commission: sexual minorities and mental health: global perspectives

Abstract

Background: Sexual orientation is a key determinant of the identity of human beings . It has also been seen as a social determinant of health. People whose sexual orientation is non-heterosexual or sexual minorities or sexually diverse are included in the broad umbrella term LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender) which is a commonly used acronym in activism, social policy, and subsequently cultural literature.Aims: For this reason, this Commission focuses primarily on sexual orientation i.e. lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) groups. We have used terms non-heterosexual, sexual minorities or sexual variation interchangeably. We have not considered asexual individuals as research in the field is weak. We are cognizant of the fact that topics relating to mental health and sexual orientation discussed in this Commission will intersect with other issues of personal, cultural and social identity, and will thus be relevant to individuals including many transgender individuals. The inclusion of mental health issues relevant to gender-diverse individuals as well as gender identity is important and deserves its own separate detailed discussion.Findings: The exact number of sexually diverse individuals in a population is often difficult to estimate but is likely to be around 5% of the population. Rates of various psychiatry disorders in LGB populations are higher than general population and these have been attributed to minority stress hypothesis. Elimination of inequality in law can lead to reduction in psychiatric morbidity in these groups. However, these are all diverse groups but even within each group there is diversity and each individual has a distinct and unique experiences, upbringing, responses to their own sexual orientation, and generating varying responses from others (including healthcare professionals).Recommendations: The mental healthcare needs differ and must be taken into account in healthcare and policy development. Improving access and reducing stigma will help. The

Stigma towards mental illness in Asian nations and low-and-middle-income countries, and comparison with high-income countries: A literature review and practice implications

“…Non-heterogenous sexual orientation or gender minority or sexually diverse or LGBTQ+ community (hence, gender minority group) often face stigma and discrimination in society, which spans across the world, irrespective of their socio-economic advantages. [ 12 ] These individuals suffer from various mental health issues (often at a higher rate than the general population), such as depression, anxiety, psychological distress, suicidality, substance use disorders, etc. [ 12 , 13 ] (King and Boonchooduang, et al .).…”

“…[ 12 ] These individuals suffer from various mental health issues (often at a higher rate than the general population), such as depression, anxiety, psychological distress, suicidality, substance use disorders, etc. [ 12 , 13 ] (King and Boonchooduang, et al .). [ 13 , 14 ] Cultural norms and practices greatly influence the onset and progression of these psychological problems among the gender minority group.…”

“…Unfortunately, societies that have greater acceptance and promote nature in terms of same-sex or sexually diverse practices, Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Shinto, have now kept a negative view towards individuals from gender minority groups. [ 12 ] Moreover, the attitude of the societies or nations also varies within the same region; for instance, countries like Singapore in Asia have less permissible attitudes towards non-heterosexual practices.…”

Psychiatry is the flagship of personalized and precision medicine: proposing an epistemic horizon to biological psychiatry

“…3. Mental wellness in Canada's Aboriginal communities: striving toward reconciliation 3 (113 citations since 2015) Notably, these 3 editorials addressed major controversies and problems in the field, namely the replicability crisis in behavioural sciences [4][5][6] (and in biomedical sciences in general 7 ), the difficulties our field faces in defining 8 and treating 9 mental illnesses, and the inequalities in service delivery in our societies and how these inequalities impact people with different ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations, geographical locations, socioeconomic status [10][11][12][13][14] and others. In the present editor ial I update my views on the first 2 controversies and show how they may be connected.…”

Romantic relationship obsessive-compulsive doubts, perfectionism, and DSM-5 personality traits in LGB people: a comparison with heterosexual individuals

“…A large amount of long-standing data shows that sexual minorities, such as the LGB community, can face increased psychological problems compared with the heterosexual population ( Balsam et al, 2005 ; Chakraborty et al, 2011 ; Lucassen et al, 2017 ; Parker and Harriger, 2020 ; Travers et al, 2020 ; Bhugra et al, 2022 ).…”