Collaborators at the Health Initiative for Men, the Community-Based Research Centre, and Simon Fraser University have developed and launched MindMapBC. MindMapBC is an online database of accessible, free or low-cost, and/or LGBTQ2+-affirming mental health supports.
Experiences of stigma, discrimination, and marginalization among LGBTQ2+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-, queer, Two-Spirit, and other gender- and sexually-diverse) people lead to disproportionately high rates of mental health needs (1-4). In addition to barriers commonly experienced when seeking mental health services – such as, cost, location, and stigma – LGBTQ2+ people often face added barriers. Finding trusted, LGBTQ2+-affirming mental health supports to refer service users to can be exceedingly difficult, a gap that MindMapBC aims to address.
Now, more than ever, access to mental health support is critical. The COVID-19 pandemic has seen an increase in feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety (5,6), yet access to mental health services may be complicated by service disruptions and changing delivery modes resulting from COVID-19 restrictions. MindMapBC helps connect people to appropriate mental health services, including remote/virtual mental health supports. Visitors to the site can also search for services based on location, cost, language, and other relevant criteria.
You’re invited to explore and share MindMapBC with service users, colleagues, and others in your networks to help connect people with appropriate, accessible, affirming mental health services.
To learn more about MindMapBC, visit https://www.mindmapbc.ca
For further information
Salway, Travis. What are the mental health-related needs of bisexual people?. 2018. Available at: https://smartsexresource.com/health-providers/blog/201806/what-are-mental-health-related-needs-bisexual-people
Salway, Travis. Syndemic service integration: Are sexual health clinics appropriate settings for addressing clients’ unmet mental health care needs?. 2018. Available at: https://smartsexresource.com/health-providers/blog/201802/syndemic-service-integration-are-sexual-health-clinics-appropriate
Acknowledgments
MindMapBC is a joint partnership between the Community-Based Research Centre, Health Initiative for Men, The Roundtable: BC’s LGBTQ/2S/+ Mental Health & Substance Use Networking Space, and Simon Fraser University, with support from the Pacific Blue Cross Health Foundation and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research.
References
- Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations. Psychological Bulletin, 129(5), 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674
- Hatzenbuehler ML, Phelan JC, Link BG. Stigma as a fundamen- tal cause of population health inequalities. Am J Public Health. 2013;103(5):813-821.
- Ross, et al. Prevalence of depression and anxiety among bisexual people compared to gay, lesbian, and heterosexual individuals: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Sex Research 2018;55 (4-5). https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224499.2017.1387755
- Salway, et al. A systematic review and meta-analysis of disparities in the prevalence of suicide ideation and attempt among bisexual populations. Archives of Sexual Behavior 2018;e-pub. http://rdcu.be/H24d
- Canadian Mental Health Association, Warning signs: more Canadians thinking about suicide during pandemic. Available at: https://cmha.bc.ca/news/more-canadians-thinking-about-suicide-during-pandemic/
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia. New national survey finds Canadians’ mental health eroding as pandemic continues, 2020. Available at: https://www.med.ubc.ca/news/new-national-survey-finds-canadians-mental-health-eroding-as-pandemic-continues/