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Abstract
Health needs assessment is a fundamental tool in public health practice. It entails the identification of needs from a range of perspectives, including epidemiological data, the views of local and professional people, and the comparative needs of the group under consideration. This paper describes the process undertaken with the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population of an area in the north-east of England. The findings were used to inform and influence commissioners and service providers about services and interventions that will address these needs, and bring about better emotional and mental health and wellbeing as identified by LGBT people themselves. Research shows that there are great inequalities in the experience of these groups when compared with the heterosexual population. This was confirmed by the local LGBT communities. Consultation with the LGBT population showed that they experience ongoing stigma and discrimination, despite the greater apparent acceptance of diversity within the community. Recommendations were identified, which particularly focus on increasing the visibility of these groups, highlighting training issues and addressing generic or specialist services, in order to reduce discrimination.
Key words
Health needs assessment, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, mental health, inequalities, discrimination
Community Practitioner, 2013; 86(3): 24-27.
No conflict of interest declared
Introduction
Health needs assessment is an indispensable tool in public health practice for identifying gaps in provision and how they can be addressed. An increasing recognition of the importance of mental health and wellbeing led to the commissioning of a mental health needs assessment across NHS South of Tyne and Wear (covering Gateshead, South Tyneside and Sunderland). Particular gaps were found, a key one being a lack of information around the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) population.
It is often assumed that LGBT people's health and wellbeing needs are the same as their heterosexual counterparts, except for specific needs relating to sexual health (Ash and Mackereth, 2010). However, these groups experience discrimination on a wide range of levels, not least in being treated differently by professionals in the healthcare sector (Beehler,2001).
This paper describes the process of health needs assessment and relates this to a particular population, who were identified as being at risk of poor mental health. The aims of the work, a summary of current research relating to LGBT...