Centre for Rural Health, School of Health Sciences, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Locked Bag 1322, Launceston, TAS 7250, Australia.
College of Nursing and Midwifery, Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, NT 0810, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Feb 6;20(4):2842. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20042842.
The aims of this paper were to explore mental health, the aspects associated with psychological distress and resilience, and the help-seeking experiences of LGBTIQA+ people. This research used a mixed-method approach using a survey and semi-structured interviews. The study was conducted in rural and remote Tasmania, Australia. Sixty-six participants completed the survey, and 30 participated in interviews. Participants reported a range of mental health concerns and varied experiences of accessing care and support in rural Australia. Depression and anxiety were the most common among participants. Almost half of all participants had attempted suicide in their lifetime, and just over a fifth had self-harmed. Two-thirds of the sample had high/very high psychological distress. For respondents, lacking social support was associated with increased psychological distress and low level of resilience. Public acceptance and social support enhanced interviewees' resilience. Interviewees experienced a lack of nearby mental health professionals, were unimpeded by operating hours, and trusted mental health professionals, which impacted help seeking and mental health. The findings indicate that acceptance, access and proximity to care, and mental health professionals' cultural competence would benefit rural Tasmanian LGBTIQA+ peoples' mental health. There is a need to improve public education, improve mental health professionals' curricula, and provide inclusive and tailored mental health care.
本文旨在探讨心理健康、与心理困扰和韧性相关的方面，以及 LGBTIQA+人群的求助经历。本研究采用了混合方法，使用了问卷调查和半结构化访谈。该研究在澳大利亚塔斯马尼亚州的农村和偏远地区进行。共有 66 名参与者完成了调查，30 名参与者参加了访谈。参与者报告了一系列心理健康问题，并在澳大利亚农村地区获得护理和支持方面存在不同的经历。抑郁和焦虑是参与者中最常见的问题。几乎一半的参与者在他们的一生中都曾尝试过自杀，超过五分之一的人曾自残过。三分之二的样本有高/非常高的心理困扰。对于受访者来说，缺乏社会支持与增加的心理困扰和低水平的韧性有关。公众的接受和社会支持增强了受访者的韧性。受访者经历了缺乏附近的心理健康专业人员、不受营业时间限制以及信任心理健康专业人员的情况，这对寻求帮助和心理健康产生了影响。研究结果表明，接受、获得和接近护理，以及心理健康专业人员的文化能力将有益于塔斯马尼亚州农村地区的 LGBTIQA+人群的心理健康。需要改善公众教育、改善心理健康专业人员的课程，并提供包容和量身定制的心理健康护理。
