11.O. Scientific session: Mental Health Among Sexual and Gender Minority Populations in Diverse Structural Stigma Environments

Abstract

Abstract Research conducted across numerous countries finds that sexual minority (e.g., lesbian, gay, and bisexual [LGB]) and gender minority (e.g., transgender [T]) individuals represent high-risk populations for poor mental health and suicidality. These disparities are believed to be a consequence of a stigmatizing environment and sexual and gender minority individuals’ disproportionate exposure to stigma-based stress compared to cisgender (i.e., non-transgender) heterosexuals. Stigma occurs at multiple levels to compromise LGBT individuals’ health. At the structural level, stigma manifests as unjust laws, policies, and cultural norms that deny, or fail to protect, the equal rights of LGBT individuals. At the interpersonal level, stigma manifests as discrimination in social interactions, social exclusion, and outright victimization. At the individual level, stigma can tax LGBT individuals’ coping resources by requiring costly behavioral strategies such as concealment of one’s LGBT identity. In this workshop, four studies from different regional environment with varying degree of structural stigma will be presented, i.e., the USA, Switzerland, Rwanda, and Kenya. They resent novel findings on the processes and mechanism underlying LGBT populations increased risk of mental health and links between stigma experiences at different levels. Dr. Clark will present a study of how negative news media coverage influence suicidality among LGBT young adults in the USA using intensive longitudinal assessments. Dr. Pfister will present findings from in-depth interviews concerning suicidality with individuals representing a wide variety of sexual and gender minority identities in Switzerland. Dr. van der Star will present a study exploring how structural stigma environments are linked to interpersonal and individuals level stigma experiences in sexual minorities representing different generations of LGBT populations. Dr. Stojanovski will present data from surveys and interviews of LGBT populations in Kenya and Rwanda focusing on experiences of discrimination and mental health. Key messages • Negative media reporting, discrimination, and barriers to health care can influence mental health and suicidality among LGBT individuals. • Identity concealment may represent a mechanism through which sexual minorities navigate structurally stigmatizing climates.