South Pacific and the Intersection of Sexuality, Gender Identity and Addiction
June 18, 2021
This photograph is for demonstration purposes only.
Everybody Deserves Tailored Care
At South Pacific Private we understand the many ways in which sexuality and gender can impact the mental health and experiences of trauma and addiction for LGBTQIA+ individuals. That includes how sexuality and gender identity can complicate or change self-perception in childhood and adulthood, and how homophobia and intolerance from parents and other authority figures can impact our development.
We also understand that LGBTQIA+ individuals face specific challenges when it comes to finding safe, appropriate and understanding addiction treatment options. At South Pacific Private, we’re proud to be a Rainbow Tick accredited treatment centre working to ensure that everyone, no matter their background or identity, has access to top quality care and support, tailored to their individual needs.
While many LGBTQIA+ Australians have experienced significant steps forward when it comes to their individual rights and respect among broader society, there is still a long way to go, particularly in outer-suburban and regional areas, and in some minority cultural or religious communities. When it comes to healthcare and mental health services too, Australian providers still have much work to do to ensure all Australian’s have access to the care and services they need.
Online Self-Assessments for Addiction, Trauma and Mental Health
Despite progress, LGBTQIA+ individuals continue to experience higher rates of mental health issues, addiction and suicide. Often this is due to the abuse, stress, trauma and discrimination that many LGBTQIA+ Australians face. Homosexual and bisexual Australians are nine times more likely to use inhalants, almost four times more likely to use meth/amphetamines, 3.5 times more likely to use hallucinogens and 2.6 times more likely to use ecstasy, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
However, when it comes to seeking treatment and support within our healthcare system, the system often fails. A combination of lack of empathy, tailored support and adaptability can result in ill-suited or off-putting treatment options. Many healthcare professionals haven’t been adequately trained to deal with the medical, psychological and cultural issues unique to LGBTQIA+ Australians, while others may show disinterest in addressing their own conscious or unconscious homophobia and transphobia.
Our Approach At South Pacific Private
At South Pacific Private, ensuring every Australian from every background has access to supportive, tailored care is a top priority. We understand the importance of creating safe, low-stress environments for individuals to begin their recovery, and the importance of reaffirming individuals’ personal and cultural identities throughout the treatment experience.
We are a rainbow-accredited treatment centre and take a proactive approach to ensure we provide the best care for all our clients:
Identity matters. We affirm identity through language and pronouns. We are committed to ensuring every client’s identity is respected by both staff and clients, and that includes respecting personal pronouns. Our staff members’ pronouns are communicated through name badges, emails and other documents. We encourage all our clients to communicate their pronouns to us.
We have a no tolerance policy for homophobia or transphobia. We aim to ensure that everyone at South Pacific Private feels safe so we have no tolerance for homophobia, transphobia, racism or other forms of prejudice.
We understand the intersection of trauma, rejection, identity and sexuality. At South Pacific Private, we recognise that for many individuals, our histories of trauma, abuse and addiction may be inextricably linked with the behaviour of authority figures and our relationship with our sexuality and gender identity. We work to ensure all our therapists, nurses and doctors have a thorough interpersonal and clinical understanding of the ways in which sexuality and gender can intersect with other experiences and complicate our experience of mental health challenges, trauma and addiction.
We provide facilities for everyone. At South Pacific Private we understand the needs of our clients – many of whom may identify as a part of the LGBTQIA+ community. We offer all clients access to private, gender neutral bathroom facilities.
We hold ourselves accountable. We take client feedback seriously and hold ourselves accountable through the Rainbow Tick Accreditation Program, a process designed to elevate the national standard of care through LGBTQIA+ inclusive best-practice guidelines.
If you have any further questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via email or by calling 1800 063 332.
