March 22-26 is LGBTQ Health Awareness Week! This year’s theme, “Out for Equity”, arises from the Coalition’s Inaugural State of LGBTQ Health National Survey, highlighting the need for ongoing engagement of the LGBTQ+ community on healthcare issues. This theme is intended to motivate our communities to be “OUT for Equity” by advocating for LGBTQ+ health.
We’ve rounded up some facts from the assessment with Mississippi State University, as well as some of our past grantees that provide resources for mental and physical health.
78% of respondents reported being called by their preferred name and pronouns by healthcare providers, and 45% respondents reported being out to their healthcare professionals about their sexuality. 72% of trans respondents report delaying treatment for health problems because of concerns surrounding their treatment by healthcare professionals and staff. [Source: Findings from the Needs Assessment]
LGBTQ+ communities have unique healthcare needs and deserve access to equitable, culturally competent care, and they shouldn’t have to leave the state of Mississippi to find proper and affordable care.
Grantee: the UMMC TEAM Clinic
The University of Mississippi Medical Center TEAM (Trustworthy, Evidence-Based, Affirming, and Multidisciplinary) Clinic is designed to serve the LGBTQ community in Mississippi. It is a collection of different departments across the UMMC campus that operates on the first Friday of each month to see patients at one of their outpatient locations.
The clinic does primary care for members of the LGBTQ community and is currently working to grow and improve the array of services that they have for patients. They are sponsored by the Center for LGBTQ Health at UMMC, focusing on clinical care, education work, and research.
The TEAM Clinic offers specialized services that promote the physical and mental well-being of LGBTQ individuals, like primary care, gender affirmative medicine and hormone therapy, HIV/STD screening and treatment, and behavioral health services, including therapy and medication management.
“The vision is for people who are LGBTQ to feel that they are equal to everyone else and that they are valued like everyone else. That their health matters, like everyone else. I want the population here in Mississippi to thrive and feel that their life has meaning and purpose,” said Dr. Scott Rodgers, Professor and Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior at UMMC.
Give them a call at (601) 984-6925 to schedule an appointment, or visit their website for more information.
Grantee: Grace Christian Counseling
Grace Christian Counseling is a nonprofit professional counseling service addressing issues ranging from marital and family challenges to mental health-related disorders.
Grace Christian Counseling will be using the grant money from the LGBTQ Fund of Mississippi to increase marketing for their services, increase access to people all over Mississippi through telehealth, and provide LGBTQ support groups.
“We tend to create group counseling services, particularly targeting LGBTQ-identifying persons, and we want to put ourselves in places where we can share with people what we do and what our services are. We want to connect and network across the state with organizations and individuals that are allies or who identify as LGBTQ members, so that we can get the word out that we are a safe place to go. We are prepared to provide care, support, empathy and understanding for all persons, but particularly LGBTQ,” said Walter Frazier, Executive Director at Grace Christian Counseling.
Grace Christian Counseling is available for in-person and virtual meetings with groups, individuals, or leaders and is also available to speak at events or to groups. They also have a referral base of medical professionals that are allies to the LGBTQ community, who are prepared and trained to provide those services. For more information, call 601-636-5703 or visit their website.