Evidence for Change: Bristol Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans Health and Wellbeing Research Report
Download (PDF 2.48 MB)Summary of report content
The Diversity Trust, alongside Healthwatch Bristol, Healthwatch Bath & North East Sommerset, Healthwatch of this report is to improve access to health services in the Bristol area for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and LGBT+ communities.
Between 2012 and 2015 the Diversity Trust asked over 1100 Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and LGBT+ people across the West of England region about their experiences of health and wellbeing, and about their experiences accessing and receiving healthcare services.
The programme was funded through the Healthwatch Community Pot, and the Diversity Trust were commissioned to carry out a Health Needs Assessment, focusing on the specific health inequalities experienced by LGBT+ communities.
The Bristol research was carried out between July 2014 and July 2015. A total of 400 people took part in the research study. 271 people took part in an online survey. A further 130 people took part in consultation and engagement events, in interviews, discussion and focus groups and in a short paper-based qualitative survey. A further 100 participants took part in briefing sessions for health professionals which ran between July 2015 and February 2016.
Headline statistics from the report include:
• 61% of participants had sought help for anxiety or depression
• 32% had hurt or injured themselves (known as self-harm)
• 20% were feeling unhappy and depressed in recent weeks
• 59% had thought about suicide or tried to kill themselves
• Most people would seek help from friends (54%) or a partner (52%) when they are unwell
• 35% stated they had a physical health condition expected to last 12 months or more
• 34% stated they had a mental health condition expected to last 12 months or more
The report contains a large number of recommendations covering the following topics:
- Culture change
- Mental health services
- Sexual health services
- Substance misuse services
- Older people's services
- Education and younger people's services
- Intersecting identities
- Celebrate
- Improving access for trans patients
- Monitoring sexual orientation
- Monitoring gender identity
The report does not include any provider response, but does include "pledges from health professionals" who took part in the LGBT+ briefings between July 2015 and February 2016, throughout the Avon and Somerset areas.