Acceptability of integrating mental health and substance use care within sexual health services among young sexual and gender minority men in Vancouver, Canada.

Autor: Coulaud PJ; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Electronic address: pierre-julien.coulaud@bccsu.ubc.ca., Parent N; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada., Stehr R; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada., Salway T; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada., Knight R; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Gender and Sexual Health Equity, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; École de Santé Publique de l'Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada; Centre de recherche en santé publique (CReSP), Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: The International journal on drug policy [Int J Drug Policy] 2024 Jun; Vol. 128, pp. 104459. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 May 23.
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104459
Abstrakt: Background: Despite well-established evidence showing that young sexual and gender minority (SGM) men experience disproportionate mental health and substance use inequities, few sexual health services provide mental health and substance use care. This qualitative study examined the experiences and perspectives about integrated care models within sexual health services among young SGM men experiencing mental health and substance use challenges.
Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 SGM men aged 18-30 years who reported using substances with sex in Vancouver, Canada. Interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results: Three themes were identified: 1) participants asserted that their sexual health, mental health and substance use-related health needs were interrelated and that not addressing all three concurrently could result in even more negative health outcomes. These concurrent health needs were described as stemming from the oppressive social conditions in which SGM men live. 2) Although sexual health clinics were considered a safe place to discuss sexual health needs, participants reported not being invited by health providers to engage in discussions about their mental health and substance use health-related needs. Participants also perceived how stigmas associated with mental health and substance use limited their ability to express and receive support. 3) Participants identified key characteristics they preferred and wanted within integrated care, including training for health providers on mental health and SGM men's health and connections (e.g., referral processes) between services. Participants also recommended integrating social support programs to help them address SGM-related social challenges.
Conclusion: Our findings highlight that SGM men's sexual health, mental health and substance use-related health needs and preferences are interrelated and should be addressed together. Tailored training and resources as well as structural adaptations to improve communication channels and collaborative connections between health providers are required to facilitate the development of integrated care for young SGM men.
Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
(Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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