Rainbow Communities
SAFE AND INCLUSIVE:
Working with LGBTTIQA+ people
Inclusive Practice
Explore what LGBTTIQA+ inclusive practice means and why services and clinicians need to ensure their practice is inclusive.
Suicide Prevention
Gain insights of what needs to be considered when working with sexually and dender diverse people who are suicidal
Mental Wellbeing
Implement effective mental wellbeing strategies to promote proud and thriving rainbow communities
Equal Not the Same: LGBTTIQA+ inclusive Practice
A learning opportunity to explore what LGBTTIQA+ inclusive practice means and why services and clinicians need to ensure their practice is inclusive.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, takatāpui, transgender, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and people of other diverse sexual and gender identifications (LGBTTIQA+) people are over represented in the statistics for people living with a mental illness, an addiction or have died by suicide. Given there are no dedicated LGBTTIQA+ mental health or addictions services in Aotearoa, it is essential that mainstream services, mental health NGO organisations, student health and counselling services and private counselling practitioners ensure that their services and programmes are LGBTTIQA+ inclusive.LGBTTIQA+ people report that their experience of mainstream services is that they are not inclusive and operate mainly from a heteronormative worldview. They often felt vulnerable in disclosing issues around their sexuality or gender and often had to educate the clinicians and counsellors about sexuality or gender diversity. Despite various mental health, addiction and suicide prevention action plans identifying LGBTTIQA+ as priority, there has not translated into actions to improve responsiveness of services. Two surveys of LGBTTIQA+ service users, conducted 10 years apart, would suggest that there has not been a significant improvement in the inclusivity and responsiveness of mental health and addiction services. In the most recent survey, the numbers of rainbow service users reporting that the services were heteronormative in their approach or that the clinicians were not very knowledgeable of the lived experience of LGBTTIQA+ people had not reduced. Those from diverse sex and gender identities reported high levels of vulnerability in discussing issues around their gender and that often clinicians pathologised their gender or sex diversity.
With the current redesign of mental health and addiction services in this country, this is an opportune time to ensure that workers are LGBTTIQA+ suicide responsive.
A common view held within services is that there is no need for targeted programmes for specific populations as the service “treats everyone the same.” This workshop will define clearly what is meant by inclusive practice for LGBTTIQA+ people and the rationale as to why mainstream services need to consider their responsiveness to LGBTTIQA+ population. Participants will apply the principles inclusiveness from the perspectives of organisational inclusiveness and clinical practice. Developed by the presenter as part of the MindOUT LGBTI Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Project in Australia, the content of the workshop is based on the latest evidence and thinking and has been peer audited by leading international thinkers and clinicians. It has been delivered to mental health and addiction services across Australia and has been adapted to be more culturally inclusive on the New Zealand context. Clinicians and service managers of mental health and addiction services and NGO organisations and primary care are strongly encouraged to attend. With the current redesign of mental health services in this country, this is an opportune time to ensure that the new models are LGBTTIQA+ inclusive.
Explore how social exclusion, discrimination and phobic attitudes impact on the wellbeing of rainbow community members.
Reflect on how unconscious bias, heteronormative assumptions and binary concepts of gender and sexuality can negatively impact on the therapeutic alliance which can lead to the client experiencing the therapeutic space as unsafe
Reflect on how unconscious bias, heteronormative assumptions and binary concepts of gender and sexuality can negatively impact on the therapeutic alliance which can lead to the client experiencing the therapeutic space as unsafe
Critique the dominant societal narratives around sexuality and gender and create an alternative rainbow inclusive narrative for working with LGBTTIQA+ people
Audit your scope of practice to embed rainbow inclusive principles and practices
Audit your scope of practice to embed rainbow inclusive principles and practices
Learning OutcomesParticipants will:- have a working knowledge of the principles of cultural competence and cultural safety as applied to LGBTTIQA+ persons- assess current service delivery against key principles, criteria and recommended actions for LGBTTIQA+ inclusiveness to their service provision- identify opportunities and challenges for improving LGBTTIQA+ inclusive practice in their organisation- be familiarised with the considered practice wisdom in delivery clinical and support services to LGBTTIQA+ people
Topics covered:
- Unpacking LGBTTIQA+ – Sexuality, Sex and Gender
- Intersections not collisions - Intersectionality of gender, sexuality, culture and religion
- Mad, Bad or Sad – The determinants that contribute to positive and poor mental health outcomes in LLGBTTIQA+ people
- Equal but not the Same – What do we mean by Inclusive Practice
- LGBTTIQA+ Cultural Competency and Safety – What does it look like?
- How inclusive is Inclusive – Principles of Inclusive Practice
- Auditing your service or clinical practice for LGBTTIQA+ inclusive practices
- Strategies for implementing inclusive practice into organisations and clinical practice
- Inclusive Practitioners - LGBTTIQA+ practice wisdom
What others have said about the workshop
“This course should be part of all mental health nurses training. Informative, relevant and valuable"
MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
“The clinical examples using the broader sociological lens made the course so much more relevant and of use to all clinicians. Will recommend it to all my colleagues and hope the rest of my team attends”
PsychIATRIST
“Realise how much I failed to appreciate the significance of certain life events of rainbow clients I have worked with."
addiction worker
Highligthed to me how non inclusive our service is. Will be going back to work to advocate more strongly for out rainbow clients ”
COUNSELLOR
"The highly skilled presenter with a wealth of knowledge and experience meant I could be confident in the content"
PSYCHOLOGIST
"Brilliant workshop. The content was easy to understand. It was so relevant and applicable to clinical practice. Will be using it to audit my service"
SERVICE MANAGER
The Sucide Closet: Effective suicide interventions for LGBTTIQA+ people
Suicide in Rainbow communities remains consistently high. Increase your understanding of what can be done to address the underlying reasons.
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Recent studies show that mainstream services in New Zealand have not significantly improved in their service delivery to clients who are members of the rainbow communities (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Takatāpui, Transgender, Intersex, Queer, Asexual - LGBTTIQA+)
Many clinicians still fail to ask about gender or sexuality nor take into account the significance of these factors in assessing suicide risk.
Many LGBTTIQA+ people using mainstream services report feeling unsafe or that issues relating to their sexuality or gender are either stereotyped or misunderstood, adding extra stress in a time of acute distress.
Many clinicians still fail to ask about gender or sexuality nor take into account the significance of these factors in assessing suicide risk.
Many LGBTTIQA+ people using mainstream services report feeling unsafe or that issues relating to their sexuality or gender are either stereotyped or misunderstood, adding extra stress in a time of acute distress.
Not all suicide risk factors are the same. Evidence shows that rainbow community members have additional factors that are particular their sexual or gender diverse identity that can negatively impact on their mental wellbeing, quality of life and influence their desire to live or die. It is essential that these factors are canvased and included in any assessment of suicide risk.
Learn how the impact of discrimination, heteronormative assumptions, unconscious bias, internalised homo/bi/trans phobia heightens suicide risk and can impact on the therapeutic relationship.
Learn how the impact of discrimination, heteronormative assumptions, unconscious bias, internalised homo/bi/trans phobia heightens suicide risk and can impact on the therapeutic relationship.
Studies have shown that for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, takatāpui, intersex, queer/questioning, asexual and people of other diverse sexual and gender identifications (LGBTTIQA+ people) suicida thinking, attempts and deaths are far more common than in the broader population. Transgender people have one of the highest risk of suicide among all subpopulations.
There are identified additional risk factors for suicide which often are far more influential in determining suicide therefore the use of a generic risk assessment tool may not assess accurately the suicide risk or acuity in an LGBTTIQA+ person.
This workshop provides participants the opportunity to gain insights and a theoretical analysis of the social and psychological determinants that influence suicide risk in LGBTTIQA+ people so to ensure that they undertake an accurate assessment.
Based on considered practice wisdom on working with LGBTTIQA+ people, the workshop will cover strategies that clinicians, counsellors or support workers need to consider when providing crisis intervention or longer-term counselling or support with LGBTTIQA+ people experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviour. It is essentials that workers have a good understanding of how hetero and gender normative assumptions and unconscious bias can impact on the therapeutic relationship. Evaluation of this workshop shows that attendance is of benefit for LGBTTIQA+ service providers and workers in mental health, addiction, primary health, social and community services, education, youth sectors. Clinicians and support workers in Te Whatu Ora, PHO, NGO, Kauapapa Māori and Pasifika mental health and addiction services, are strongly encouraged to attend. Topics covered:
There are identified additional risk factors for suicide which often are far more influential in determining suicide therefore the use of a generic risk assessment tool may not assess accurately the suicide risk or acuity in an LGBTTIQA+ person.
This workshop provides participants the opportunity to gain insights and a theoretical analysis of the social and psychological determinants that influence suicide risk in LGBTTIQA+ people so to ensure that they undertake an accurate assessment.
Based on considered practice wisdom on working with LGBTTIQA+ people, the workshop will cover strategies that clinicians, counsellors or support workers need to consider when providing crisis intervention or longer-term counselling or support with LGBTTIQA+ people experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviour. It is essentials that workers have a good understanding of how hetero and gender normative assumptions and unconscious bias can impact on the therapeutic relationship. Evaluation of this workshop shows that attendance is of benefit for LGBTTIQA+ service providers and workers in mental health, addiction, primary health, social and community services, education, youth sectors. Clinicians and support workers in Te Whatu Ora, PHO, NGO, Kauapapa Māori and Pasifika mental health and addiction services, are strongly encouraged to attend. Topics covered:
- Suicide in LGBTTIQA+ people – What is it and how is it explained
- The role of social determinants in contributing to poor mental health outcomes and suicidality in LGBTTIQA+ people
- Not all the same - an understanding of the intersectionality of age, gender, cultural differences and ableness in LGBTTIQA+ suicide
- Risk and Protective Factors for suicide in LGBTTIQA+ people – Additional considerations when undertaking suicide risk assessment in LGBTTIQA+ people
- Unconscious bias and heteronormative assumptions and the therapeutic relationship
- Intervention and support - Issues to consider when working with LGBTTIQA+ people experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviour.
What others have said about the workshop
“Leaving even more determined to ensure my school is a safe place for our rainbow students”
SCHOOL Counsellor
“Your openness and style of presentation created a safe environment to ask questions and for honest group discussion.”
MENTAL HEALTH NURSE
“I wish there had been a course like this when I first started working in mental health. I have learnt so much”
SOCIAL WORKER
“One of the best trainings I have attended. Helped me greatly personally and professionally”
COUNSELLOR
“The easy to understand explanations of trans and intersex was most helpful and shed light on the experiences of groups that I knew little about”
CLINICAL Psychologist
"A lot to consider. Walking away with an extended viewpoint"
SUPPORT WORKER
