It's about safe access

“Many of us will avoid treatment at all costs. We only go when it’s absolutely necessary, and that’s usually two or three steps beyond where you should be seeking treatment. We have a disincentive to access the system at a time when it’s appropriate.” GLBTI community member 

At Capital Health, we believe in the provincial vision for primary health care: a system in which “the uniqueness and diversity of individuals, families and communities are valued and responded to appropriately.”

The GLBTI Health Initiative is doing just that. With one-time funding through Health Canada’s Primary Health Care Transition Fund, the initiative aims to improve access to comprehensive and coordinated primary health care for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex (GLBTI) people in Nova Scotia’s Capital Health district.

In a nutshell, we’re building capacity and strengthening relationships so that every person in our district enjoys access to primary health care - the care they need, when they need it and by the appropriate health care provider.

The reason

Access to primary care is a concern for all Canadians. For members of the GLBTI community, it can be an even more crucial concern.

“I have spent eight years of having GPs refuse to treat me - eight years. And I went through more GPs than you could possibly imagine, being denied, categorically, any discussion of treatment … along the lines of being transgendered.” Transgender individual
 
Barriers to accessing health care can include:

• Fear of real or perceived discrimination.
• Homophobia, transphobia or heterosexism among health care providers.
• Lack of awareness regarding GLBTI health issues – in both the GLBTI and health care communities.
• Lack of recognition that GLBTI people comprise many diverse communities with equally diverse health care needs.
• Discomfort within the health care community about appropriately referring GLBTI patients to specialists and other community resources.

Due to these and other barriers, gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender and intersex individuals do not have the same access that many Canadians take for granted.

What you may not know…

Members of this community may also be at increased risk for medical problems. For example:

• Lesbians may be at greater risk for ovarian cancer because they are less likely to use contraceptives or bear children - both of which can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
• Homophobia can significantly affect a person's mental health. In fact, research indicates that homophobia may be an underlying cause in many suicide attempts.
• Lesbians, gay men, bisexual individuals and transgender people may be subjected to hate crimes and violence at a greater rate than the general public.

These are just a few of the risks affecting the health and wellness of GLBTI people - risks GLBTI people themselves may not even recognize. With limited knowledge among both patients and health care providers, proper screening and appropriate care is often missed.

So, what are we doing about it?

• Creating networks of health care providers committed to providing safe, accessible, co-ordinated and knowledgeable care to GLBTI people.
• Conducting formal and informal research to understand the unique and diverse health needs of the individuals who make up the GLBTI population.
• Creating educational information and learning opportunities for health care providers.
• Organizing community outreach through education sessions in Halifax aimed at raising awareness of health and wellness within the GLBTI community.
• Developing opportunities to sustain the program within existing structures and resources.

Last Updated: 6/29/2007 11:01:04 AM