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Providing Services and Supports for Youth who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, Intersex or Two-Spirit

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The SAMHSA practice brief focuses on improving behavioral health services for LGBTQI2-S (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Two-Spirit) individuals. It emphasizes the importance of creating inclusive and affirming environments within behavioral health settings.

 

Key points include:

  1. Understanding Diversity: Recognizes the diverse identities within the LGBTQI2-S community and the unique behavioral health challenges they may face due to stigma, discrimination, and societal prejudice.
  2. Cultural Competence: Emphasizes the need for behavioral health providers to cultivate cultural competence by understanding LGBTQI2-S terminology, experiences, and health disparities.
  3. Best Practices: Outlines best practices for providing inclusive care, such as using affirming language, respecting chosen names and pronouns, and integrating LGBTQI2-S-specific screening and assessment tools.
  4. Creating Safe Spaces: Recommends strategies for creating safe and supportive environments, including staff training, policy development, and fostering partnerships with LGBTQI2-S community organizations.
  5. Addressing Health Disparities: Discusses the importance of addressing mental health, substance use, and other behavioral health disparities affecting LGBTQI2-S individuals through tailored interventions and targeted outreach efforts.

 

Overall, the brief aims to guide behavioral health providers in enhancing their services to better meet the needs of LGBTQI2-S individuals, promoting equity, inclusivity, and improved health outcomes within this community.

 

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