Lesbian, gay, and bisexual people face difficult challenges on a daily basis. However, did you know that they are often denied basic health care? Here, we will go through some of the topics that are essential and that need to be addressed as soon as possible. So what are lesbian health issues, and why are lesbians at such a risk?
Health Is Wealth
One of the most obvious things that everyone knows is that health is extremely important. But did you know that there are certain problems that lesbians may face and that identifying them is not an easy task? People of different sexualities face challenges on a daily basis heterosexual people can’t even imagine.
LGBT people often face discrimination, abuse, and other violations of their human rights. We can’t say being anything other than straight is easy, but it is what it is. As a society, we have a long way to go to help these people lead normal lives. While we are striving towards that goal, there are numerous problems that need to be addressed.
When it comes to health issues, lesbian, bi, gay, transgender, and other people are at risk due to a lack of knowledge and awareness in the system. They often feel that their health care worker is homophobic, unaware of the problem, or simply ignorant.
Unfortunately, depression and suicide are common health concerns in the lesbian community. According to some estimates, LGBT youth accounts for 30% of suicides, which is alarming. Your sexual identity shouldn’t be the reason for taking your own life, and people should be allowed to be whatever they feel like. However, even if we don’t go that far, depression is quite common among gay, bisexual, and transgender communities.
Furthermore, another important problem is substance abuse, which often helps people cope with the grim reality and everyday abuse. So considering everything that could go wrong and the risky behaviors we have mentioned here, it is more than obvious why lesbian health (and that of other sexual minorities) should be addressed.
Issues They Should Discuss With Their Doctors
The safest way to fight depression, suicide, and any other health problem is by acting early. People should be able to talk to their doctors about anything regardless of their gender identity, sexuality, or other such factors. Mental health is as important as physical health, and if you or anyone you know is going through a rough patch in their life, the best course of action would be to consult a trustworthy doctor.
Making sure that you are healthy should be your number one priority. We need to understand why the discussion on lesbian health issues is important. The answer is simple. There are many people who are not getting the necessary health care, and this includes mental health. If you are experiencing any types of problems, you need to address them as soon as possible. It is the only way to get better and ensure that you have a healthy, rich life.
There is a lot of stigma around mental health, and people are not used to asking for help, especially if they are having suicidal thoughts or fighting depression and anxiety. Moreover, every sexually active person should be aware of the risks that come with unprotected sex and the dangers of STDs.
Needless to say, lesbians have been the target of prejudice and discrimination for ages, and unfortunately, there are still places where being gay is not accepted. Of course, all of the issues we have already mentioned should be addressed as well. Depression is just one thing on the list. Substance abuse is also a major problem in the community, and talking to your doctor might get you the help you need to get your life back on track.
Ideally, your doctor will be able to help you regardless of your problem, and you should be able to talk to them about any possible issue.
The Challenges Related to Lesbian Health
Let’s start from the beginning. What are the challenges related to lesbian health issues? We have already mentioned that one of the main challenges lesbians face, which may be related to their health, is discrimination. Many people are having a hard time accepting that other sexualities exist and that people are different. As a result, it may lead to problems with anxiety or depression and even have a fatal outcome.
Members of the LGBT community are likely to experiment with illegal substances, which can also cause serious damage to their health. However, discrimination based on their sexuality is just the tip of the iceberg. There are many other problems they might face in their life that may affect their health in a negative way.
Some lesbians are unable to even get access to health insurance due to their sexuality. The same applies to employment, marriage, housing, adoption, and many other aspects of life. Even if we take a look at the United States, not every state and county will allow same-sex marriages. While this might seem insignificant to some, they are wrong. Marriage is an important legal bond, and the inability to get it will open the door to all other problems we have mentioned here.
There are no explicit laws against bullying in schools, no protection, not many programs that are appropriate for LGBT youth, and the list goes on.
Finally, even if they manage to get health insurance and visit a doctor, there is a good chance that they will face a lack of understanding from them. Many doctors are unaware of the problems lesbians face, and they aren’t knowledgeable and culturally competent to help them with specific issues.
Summary
Hopefully, people will understand why the discussion on lesbian health issues is important and how it may change lives for the better. Not only will it improve people’s mental and physical health, but it will also contribute to their well-being.
Many people across the world are unaware of the issues and have no idea that LGBT youth are more likely to commit suicide, be homeless, less likely to get necessary health care (like preventive services for cancer), and are at higher risk of HIV and other dangerous STDs.
The only way to fight this problem is to address it, talk about it, and find a way that will improve adolescent health and ensure that every person has basic health and human services available.
