Researching for LGBTQ Health

Gay Community

Several studies have found that gay men are more likely than heterosexual men to report high rates of mental health problems (1). We are particularly concerned with the mental health of gay men and their experiences with health services – this includes services that enable gay men to become parents. Here are some of our studies that gay men are welcome to participate in:

  • Creating our families: A pilot study of the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people accessing assisted human reproduction services in Ontario
  • Access to primary care for people with serious mental health and/or substance use issues: A qualitative study

For more information about these projects, please visit our Projects page.

We are also in the process of developing a community-based research project examining whether being HIV-positive or HIV-negative has an impact on mental health services for gay and bisexual (GB) men in Ontario. This project will ask:

  • What are the barriers and facilitators to mental health care for GB men in Ontario with mental health issues?
  • Do HIV status and HIV risk behaviours affect access to mental health services for GB men in Ontario? If so, how?
  • What are the experiences of HIV-positive and HIV-negative GB men with mental health services in Ontario?
  • How does having other identities, such as ethno-racial identities, impact access to mental health services for HIV-positive and HIV-negative GB men in Ontario?

To answer these questions we will ask HIV-positive GB men and HIV-negative GB men to fill out an internet survey about their mental health service use, mental health status and HIV risk behaviours. We will also interview HIV-positive GB and HIV-negative GB men who have had a mental health issue in the past 12 months about their experiences with mental health services.

To learn more about the work being done by some of our collaborators in Ontario in the area of HIV, please visit:

Note:

1. Brennan, D.J., Ross, L.E., Dobinson, C., Veldhuizen, S., & Steele, L.S. (2010). Men’s sexual orientation and health in Canada. Canadian Journal of Public Health, 101(3), 255-258.