Mental health is an important topic that does not get enough attention. Mental illness can affect anyone, but it has a significant impact on LGBTQ people. The LGBTQ community faces many mental health challenges and barriers to care, such as stigma, discrimination, and targeted violence. There are higher rates of mental illness in the LGBTQ community and the lack of support from society and family members. Historically marginalized by society and discriminated against in healthcare settings, this population has limited access to culturally competent mental health services. As I look forward to becoming a clinical mental health counselor, I will focus my mind on vital activities, which will ensure mental health equity for the marginalized community.
My support for mental health equity in the LGBTQ community as a clinical mental health counselor will require my understanding of cultural competency and how to can use it in practice. By understanding a client’s culture, I will be better equipped to provide culturally competent care. The ability to offer such excellent care will primarily be based on my awareness of cultural norms or values that may influence what is important for clients. For example, if I want to know more about LGBTQ people and where they live, I can research statistics on gender identity by zip code. Once I am conversant with the gender identity, I embrace their cultural norms.
The society also plays a critical role in enhancing the mental well-being of the LGBTQ community. Smooth interaction between the society and the marginalized community will promote high levels of being mentally healthy. As a clinical mental health counselor, I will play an active role in educating society on behalf of this population. Clinical mental health counselors work with clients who have a wide range of sexual orientations, gender identities, and expressions. I will, therefore, have developed a better understanding of how the LGBTQ community behaves and respond to issues. The differences, from how the ordinary society handles issues, can affect how the marginalized community cope with stress, relate to others, or experience self-esteem (Posselt & Lipson, 2016). My role will, therefore, be making the ordinary society conversant with the differences. I will also go ahead and encourage many to accommodate the differences and embrace harmonious living. As a result, there will be significant steps made in making mental health equity for LGBTQ people a reality.
A clinical mental health counselor’s work is to help individuals, couples, and families live more effectively. They help by addressing the psychological needs of members of various communities to improve their mental well-being. When a counselor is assessing a client’s needs, they must be aware that not everyone experiences life as is the case with the common society. For example, LGBTQ people may experience abuse or discrimination because they identify as LGBT+, which could lead them to feel isolated and alienated from general society. As a clinical mental health counselor, I will provide resources for these individuals so that they can have an equal opportunity for success. My advantaging position of being trained on how to handle people with diverse needs will be key when performing the role. Some of the resources I will provide to enhance mental health equity include; safe spaces for counseling sessions, information about gender identity, and sexual orientation.
There is a need for proper attention to be directed on mental as a way of ensuring equity is achieved for all persons. Clinical mental health counselors are key personnel that can enhance mental well-being for all persons including the marginalized community. As a counselor, I will ensure to understand cultural competency. In addition to that, I will educate the society on needs of the LGBTQ community such that there is harmonious living. The result should be the realization of mental health equity for all persons.
Reference
Posselt, J., & Lipson, S. (2016). Competition, anxiety, and depression in the college classroom: Variations by student identity and field of study.Journal of College Student Development, 57(8), 973-989.