Nurses Key to LGBT Mental Health Support
Psychiatric nurses can play a key role in addressing the mental health needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth in the school setting, acting as service providers and as advocates, according to an article published in the February 2010 Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing. The article notes that LGBT youth are likely to experience stigma and social prejudice in reaction to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The effects of this negative treatment may make these adolescents more vulnerable to mental health problems including anxiety, substance abuse, depression and suicide. The article emphasizes that feelings of connectedness, caring relationships within families and other supportive adults, and emotionally safe schools can provide significant protection against mental health problems in LGBT youth, particularly against suicidal ideation and attempts.
The article suggests that psychiatric nurses can support LGBT youth by collaborating with schools to develop better support systems for these students, confront homophobic attitudes and heterosexist assumptions within the school, incorporate diverse voices and experiences within the curriculum, direct students to LGBT community resources, and establish in-service trainings and professional development workshops.
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