Reducing Stigma and Discrimination among People who are Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT)

To access the archived recording via telephone:

1. Call the playback dial-in number: 1-888-844-1786
2. When prompted, enter the reference number: 152667#

Teleconference Presentation [PDF Format – 1Mb]
Teleconference Presentation [PowerPoint Format - 1Mb]

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Training Summary

People who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender (LGBT) often confront stigma, prejudice, and discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. Stigma has many effects including feelings of low self-esteem, isolation, and hopelessness.¹ Individuals who have a mental illness often face the same feelings because of the stigma and prejudice associated with poor mental health. Stigma, in any form, is a serious impediment to the well-being of those who experience it.²
LGBT individuals who have a mental illness must cope with the dual or double stigma that comes from being part of more than one stigmatized group. Stigma increases exponentially and its effects may be even more detrimental for individuals in minority groups than for the general population, characterized by:

• Myths in general understanding, causes and treatment alternatives
• Somatization
• Shame
• Avoidance of help seeking³

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the effects of this double or dual stigma can be particularly harmful.⁴ For members of racial and ethnic minority communities, the stigma of mental illness is layered upon racism and other forms of discrimination, leaving individuals and their families in a complex, highly vulnerable and often helpless situation.⁵

Sources:

¹ Prince PN. Prince CR. Perceived stigma and community integration among clients of assertive community treatment. Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal. 25(4):323-31, 2002 Spring. 

^{2, 3, 5} Scheffer, R. May 28, 2003. Addressing Stigma: Increasing Public Understanding of Mental Illness, http://www.camh.net/education/Resources_communities_organizations/addressing_stigma_senatepres03.pdf, last referenced 1/7/08.

⁴ National Alliance on Mental Illnesses (NAMI). Double Stigma: GLBT People Living with Mental Illness, http://www.nami.org/TextTemplate.cfm?Section=Fact_Sheets1&Template=/ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=48110, last referenced 1/7/08.

Training Goals

This training will:

• Define LGBT terms, describe the stigma faced in the mental health system and explore research on LGBT individuals and mental health stigma.
• Offer first-hand accounts from LGBT individuals on their experiences facing and overcoming the dual stigma that accompanies sexual orientation and mental illness.
• Provide an overview of strategies that may help to reduce stigma in the mental health delivery system for LGBT individuals.

Presentations

Presentation materials for this event are available below in two file formats: PPT (MS PowerPoint) and PDF (Portable Document Format).

Teleconference Presentation [PDF Format – 1Mb]
Teleconference Presentation [PowerPoint Format - 1Mb]

Please choose to save the presentation file you select to your computer before opening it. Allow for extra processing time when opening large files.

Event Speakers

Mark A. Davis, M.A.
Mark A. Davis, M.A. is a liaison to several communities including behavioral health consumer/survivors, suicide attempt survivors, and individuals and groups representing sexual and gender minority cultures.  He is focused on the Philadelphia Behavioral Health System recovery transformation efforts to include LGBT affirming services.  He is the Founding President of the PA Mental Health Consumers' Association and has worked in the mental health consumer/survivor recovery civil rights movement since 1985.  Mark is a suicide attempt survivor and dedicated to prevention in honor of his sister Jennifer's death by suicide in 1995.  He tested HIV-positive on September 27, 1988 and is at the forefront of national efforts to eliminate behavioral health disparities and stigma connected to being HIV-positive and a gay person living with and recovering from bipolar II, addictions, and hearing loss.  Mark facilitates the DBSA Pink & Blues, a peer-run recovery support group for LGBT people living with mental health issues at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in the heart of Philadelphia.

Renae Sewell, Programs Director, Hearts & Ears Inc
Renae Sewell is the new Programs Director for Hearts & Ears Inc. (H&E), a drop-in, resource center for the GLBT community and their family members and friends. Renae started with H&E the beginning of September 2006. Previously, she worked as a peer specialist and activity coordinator for Helping Other People Through Empowerment Inc, and also as a peer specialist with the Ethel Elan Safe Haven program, (Transitional Housing), all based in Baltimore city.  Renae has also served as Assistant Director for Better Day’s Supportive Housing, (a residential housing program for woman previously incarcerated). She has volunteered for Hero, Moveable Feast and NAMI, and is now a member of On Our Own of Maryland’s Board of Directors, a member of the Transgender Response Team, a member of NAMI’s first GLBT Workgroup that was established June 2007.

Nicholas Love
Nicholas Love is a sexual and gender activist, who is an out and proud, gay, transsexual. Nicholas has been educating about gender expression, alternative sexuality, and cultural diversity in numerous arenas for over a decade throughout Arizona and across the U.S. As a Certified Psychiatric Rehabilitation Practitioner (CPRP), Nicholas has added activism about promoting recovery and reducing stigma of individuals with mental health challenges. He has served on several boards of non-profit and support organizations and has significant experience presenting on topics related to sexuality and diversity. He is currently a member of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); a Leader for NAMI Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Committee; Board Member of Southeast Valley (SEV) NAMI; Chair of SEV NAMI’s Cultural Diversity Committee; a member of US Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association (USPRA); Chair of USPRA Subcommittee of the Multicultural Committee and a member of USPRA Multicultural Committee. He is also a member of Arizona Trans Alliance and serves as their Advisor; Phoenix Police Bias Crimes GLBT Advisory Committee; Southern Arizona Gender Alliance (SAGA); Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN); and National Center for Transgender Equality. In addition to being very active in several other organizations and causes related to overall human rights and acceptance, Nicholas is in the process of developing Diversi-T, a company specializing in educating and consulting on sexuality and gender awareness. He is currently employed as SMI Rehabilitation Specialist for an Arizona RBHA.