Thu 24 Oct 2013 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A ground-breaking new report has found social prejudice continues to have a negative impact on the health of GLBTI people in New Zealand, and research and data collection needs to be a priority in order to forge change. Researcher Michael Stevens from Affinity Services has analysed the public health needs of New Zealand’s ‘rainbow communities’, in the first-ever study of its kind. The report was commissioned by the Auckland District Health Board following a symposium earlier this year on the community’s wellbeing, and the issue of suicide. Stevens finds that while there have been many advances in the rights and legal status of glbti Kiwis, prejudice is causing ‘minority stress’, which is a social determinant of health in the same way poverty or ethnicity is. He says New Zealand’s health system needs to develop cultural competency in working with glbti people to help alleviate this. The researcher says the rainbow communities, especially transgender and intersex people, have a troubled history of interaction with the health system. “This can lead to health problems becoming more complex and expensive to manage as people delay engaging with the health system out of fear,” he finds. “Many health professionals are well-intentioned but ill-informed or unaware of the health needs of people from rainbow communities.” Stevens says current health strategies and funding make no provision for the health needs of GLBTI people, despite greater levels of suicide, depression and substance abuse, as well as higher levels of obesity, and certain forms of cancer. “The current lack of targeted research means the health needs of the rainbow community are hidden from and thus excluded from current public health policy,” he says. “Addressing these facts and including this population in relevant health research would in fact save money for the health system through preventative action and increase the overall efficiency of health service delivery.” Stevens’ Policy Recommendations 1: Rainbow community service users will receive equitable and culturally safe access to general and mental health services across their lifespan. 2: The particular health needs of tangata takatāpui will be considered and addressed in line with the state’s obligations and commitments under the Treaty of Waitangi and the principles of partnership, protection and participation. 3: All health services will be supported and resourced to deliver culturally sensitive and appropriate services for Rainbow communities 4: Rainbow communities will be actively involved with and consulted about the development and delivery and evaluation of appropriate policies, programmes and services. 5: Research and data collection on the physical and mental health needs of Rainbow communities will be a priority for health research.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 24th October 2013 - 6:00pm