After almost a decade in operation, Australia’s national depression initiative, Beyond Blue, has taken its first major steps towards addressing the alarmingly high levels of depression and anxiety reported in the GLBTI community.
Meeting in Melbourne on December 17, more than seventy invited representatives were in attendance for the GLBTI Mental Health Round Table convened by Beyond Blue in association with the National LGBTI Health Alliance.
While the opportunity was taken by many speakers at the roundtable to encourage Beyond Blue to use its high profile and leverage to tackle homophobia, criticism of the organisation’s previous inaction on GLBTI health was muted.
However with Beyond Blue having itself undertaken a literature review of depression and related issues in the GLBTI community in 2008, the existing evidence basis for action was clear, a point made by many.
In particular, bisexual women, trans, intersex and youth in regional rural and remote areas were identified as groups at high risk of depression or suicide. Older GLBTI persons, particularly those in, or considering, supported aged care facilities, were also highlighted by participants as being at increased risk of depression.
Homophobia and transphobia were identified by roundtable participants as significant factors in comparatively high levels of depression and anxiety in the GLBTI community. Discrimination and lack of inclusivity in information or service delivery were also identified as forming considerable barriers to GLBTI people accessing mental health services.
In his opening address Beyond Blue Chair, Jeff Kennett, outlined the role the organisation has played in increasing awareness of depression for the mainstream community, pointing to its high profile campaigns to ‘increase understanding to the point where we can talk about it openly and people can feel comfortable seeking help’.
At the roundtable Mr Kennett foreshadowed a shift towards inclusivity for the GLBTI community from Beyond Blue. As the organisation enters its third five-year planning cycle, Mr Kennett said that Beyond Blue’s focus would be shifting to areas which are under-represented or in which the organisation ‘can do better’.
Encouragingly for the GLBTI community, Beyond Blue CEO Leonie Young also identified up to $2 million in funding that could potentially be earmarked for GLBTI relevant programs in the next 12 to 18 months.
National LGBT Health Alliance Executive Director Gabi Rosenstreich welcomed the overtures made by Beyond Blue and the possibility of future collaboration.
‘The relationship between Beyond Blue and the LGBT community hasn’t always been easy so I commend Beyond Blue for taking the criticism on board and doing something concrete,’ she said.
‘We bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the table, and until now we’ve lacked the resources to do what needs to be done.’
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