Mental Health of Sexual and Gender Minorities in LMIC
MENTAL HEALTH OF SEXUAL AND GENDER MINORITIES IN LOW- AND MIDDLE-INCOME COUNTRIES
Conference by Dr. Jaqueline Gomes de Jesus
Visiting Professor, EHESP – École de Hautes Études en Santé Publique
Wednesday, June 25, 2025, 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm (France Time)
Groups that have historically been discriminated against, due to prejudice against their sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and/or body unconformity, because they do not fit into dominant sexual/gender standards, constituting themselves as sexual and gender minorities, are documented all over the world. Traditionally, research on LGBTI+ health has tended to be limited to characterization only through sexual activity, ignoring other characteristics, such as gender and affective-sexual attraction, raciality, age, and social class.
Another issue was its concentration on HIV/STI care and prevention, with a greater emphasis on men who have sex with men and trans women, based on stereotypes and biased conceptions about body and identity, disregarding trans men, non-binary people, intersex people, women who are attracted to women and people with bisexual attraction. People can feel attraction but are not necessarily sexually active, which also applies to heterosexual and cisgender people (who identify with the gender they were assigned at birth).
This talk, led by Professor Jaqueline Gomes de Jesus, will address the issue of mental health of the LGBTI+ population, considering some key points, such as the fact that, although there are regular reports demonstrating the recurrence of LGBTphobic violence, little is known, based on rigorous research, about the mental health of these groups, and even less about the development of evidence-based treatments, appropriate to each culture. There is an urgent need to understand the different factors that harm self-esteem and contribute to the development of mental health problems, expressed as anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation and high levels of stress, in order to identify opportunities for intervention. Studies conducted in developed countries have shown dramatically high levels of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse, compared to the general population.
Pilot data from low- and middle-income countries (El Salvador, Cambodia, India, Kenya, Vietnam, and Brazil) indicated that all groups, regardless of gender identity, romantic and/or sexual attraction, or even appearance, suffered from poor mental health, with symptoms more severe than those of war veterans; and that discrimination in the family, abuse suffered in the community, and the pernicious influence of non-existent or effectively discriminatory public policies harm the mental health of LGBTI+ people.
Non-specialized mental health settings (e.g., social and support groups, human resources or employee assistance programs, educational settings, etc.) can contribute to and support the screening, referral, diagnosis, and treatment or prevention of mental illnesses and suicidal behaviors. Encouraging resilience, promoting social support, eliminating microaggressions, and encouraging the development of planning and decision-making skills are protective factors in mental health.
Investing in acceptance and care in personal, family, and community relationships, demonstrating that LGBTIphobia negatively affects the mental health of family and friends, is extremely important to reduce the risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors among LGBTI+ people, especially younger people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.
In conclusion, professor Jaqueline will address issues focused on the training of mental health professionals, promoting more effective practices among the LGBTI+ population to deal with trauma and post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use and abuse, anxiety, depression and suicide risk, in addition to addressing the issues of self-esteem and social support in a proactive manner.