Bisexual people constitute the largest sexual minority group in North America and experience sign... more Bisexual people constitute the largest sexual minority group in North America and experience significant mental health disparities in relation to heterosexuals, gays, and lesbians. In this article, we will examine the process and experience of help seeking among bisexuals. This was a community-based study that collected qualitative interview data from 41 diverse bisexual people from across Ontario, Canada. We analyzed the interview data using grounded theory and constructed an understanding of bisexuals' experiences of help seeking. We have conceptualized an overarching model that illustrates 4 interrelated stages: (a) the consideration of services, (b) the process of finding services, (c) barriers and facilitators to accessing services, and (d) experience of service utilization. This model is nonlinear, in that participants do not necessarily move through stages in sequence. Although many stages are experienced at the individual level, they are simultaneously informed by multiple factors at interpersonal and system levels. Our findings suggest a need for interventions at the policy, service and provider levels to improve accessibility of culturally competent services for this population. Understanding the mental health experiences of bisexual people will allow mental health professionals to build competencies working with this population and thereby contribute to a reduction in mental health disparities. (PsycINFO Database Record
Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The ... more Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The PTSD Checklist–Civilian version (PCL-C) is a self-report measure used to assess PTSD symptoms in nonmilitary persons, closely following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. In a study of 405 bisexuals in Ontario, Canada, the authors evaluated the PCL-C using confirmatory factor analysis and found it performed poorly. The authors caution researchers to be aware of the PCL-C's limitations. The authors concur that the three symptom clusters may not be the best way to evaluate the presence of PTSD, an issue that may be alleviated with PCL-C revisions to align with DSM-V criteria.
Currently, mental health is a hot topic in Ontario. Countless media stories along with government... more Currently, mental health is a hot topic in Ontario. Countless media stories along with governmental and professional groups have highlighted the importance of reducing stigma, identifying folks who need support and connecting folks in need of support to clinical services. There are aspects of this that are awesome. Many of us do suffer from some form of mental distress at one point or another and/or love someone who has/does. It is important that we do not feel embarrassment or shame about the behaviours, thoughts and feelings we are told are not “normal.” It is also important that we challenge all the stigma and oppression associated with being labeled with a mental illness (e.g., loss of employment, loss of housing)...
Throughout history, people labelled with mental health issues have been stigmatized. This continues today and is inseparable from the language we use. Take for example the shooting of men with mental health issues by the Toronto police. The actions of the police are informed by labelling certain men’s behaviour as “crazy.” This label is accompanied by assumptions such as, “that person is dangerous.” The stereotypes of people labelled with mental health issues are countless and generally remain embedded in our language without question...
Bisexuality is consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes. In population-based data... more Bisexuality is consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes. In population-based data, this is partially explained by income differences between bisexual people and lesbian, gay, and/or heterosexual individuals. However, the interrelationships between bisexuality, poverty, and mental health are poorly understood. In this paper, we examine the relationships between these variables using a mixed methods study of 302 adult bisexuals from Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey including measures of psychological distress and minority stress. A subset of participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview to contextualize their mental health experiences. Using information regarding household income, number of individuals supported by the income and geographic location, participants were categorized as living below or above the Canadian Low Income Cut Off (LICO). Accounting for the networked nature of the sample, participants living below the LICO had significantly higher mean scores for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and reported significantly more perceived discrimination compared to individuals living above the LICO. Grounded theory analysis of the qualitative interviews suggested four pathways through which bisexuality and poverty may intersect to impact mental health: through early life experiences linked to bisexuality or poverty that impacted future financial stability; through effects of bisexual identity on employment and earning potential; through the impact of class and sexual orientation discrimination on access to communities of support; and through lack of access to mental health services that could provide culturally competent care. These mixed methods data help us understand the income disparities associated with bisexual identity in population-based data, and suggest points of intervention to address their impact on bisexual mental health.
Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The ... more Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The PTSD Checklist–Civilian version (PCL-C) is a self-report measure used to assess PTSD symptoms in nonmilitary persons, closely following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. In a study of 405 bisexuals in Ontario, Canada, the authors evaluated the PCL-C using confirmatory factor analysis and found it performed poorly. The authors caution researchers to be aware of the PCL-C's limitations. The authors concur that the three symptom clusters may not be the best way to evaluate the presence of PTSD, an issue that may be alleviated with PCL-C revisions to align with DSM-V criteria.
Bisexual people constitute the largest sexual minority group in North America and experience sign... more Bisexual people constitute the largest sexual minority group in North America and experience significant mental health disparities in relation to heterosexuals, gays, and lesbians. In this article, we will examine the process and experience of help seeking among bisexuals. This was a community-based study that collected qualitative interview data from 41 diverse bisexual people from across Ontario, Canada. We analyzed the interview data using grounded theory and constructed an understanding of bisexuals' experiences of help seeking. We have conceptualized an overarching model that illustrates 4 interrelated stages: (a) the consideration of services, (b) the process of finding services, (c) barriers and facilitators to accessing services, and (d) experience of service utilization. This model is nonlinear, in that participants do not necessarily move through stages in sequence. Although many stages are experienced at the individual level, they are simultaneously informed by multiple factors at interpersonal and system levels. Our findings suggest a need for interventions at the policy, service and provider levels to improve accessibility of culturally competent services for this population. Understanding the mental health experiences of bisexual people will allow mental health professionals to build competencies working with this population and thereby contribute to a reduction in mental health disparities. (PsycINFO Database Record
Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The ... more Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The PTSD Checklist–Civilian version (PCL-C) is a self-report measure used to assess PTSD symptoms in nonmilitary persons, closely following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. In a study of 405 bisexuals in Ontario, Canada, the authors evaluated the PCL-C using confirmatory factor analysis and found it performed poorly. The authors caution researchers to be aware of the PCL-C's limitations. The authors concur that the three symptom clusters may not be the best way to evaluate the presence of PTSD, an issue that may be alleviated with PCL-C revisions to align with DSM-V criteria.
Currently, mental health is a hot topic in Ontario. Countless media stories along with government... more Currently, mental health is a hot topic in Ontario. Countless media stories along with governmental and professional groups have highlighted the importance of reducing stigma, identifying folks who need support and connecting folks in need of support to clinical services. There are aspects of this that are awesome. Many of us do suffer from some form of mental distress at one point or another and/or love someone who has/does. It is important that we do not feel embarrassment or shame about the behaviours, thoughts and feelings we are told are not “normal.” It is also important that we challenge all the stigma and oppression associated with being labeled with a mental illness (e.g., loss of employment, loss of housing)...
Throughout history, people labelled with mental health issues have been stigmatized. This continues today and is inseparable from the language we use. Take for example the shooting of men with mental health issues by the Toronto police. The actions of the police are informed by labelling certain men’s behaviour as “crazy.” This label is accompanied by assumptions such as, “that person is dangerous.” The stereotypes of people labelled with mental health issues are countless and generally remain embedded in our language without question...
Bisexuality is consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes. In population-based data... more Bisexuality is consistently associated with poor mental health outcomes. In population-based data, this is partially explained by income differences between bisexual people and lesbian, gay, and/or heterosexual individuals. However, the interrelationships between bisexuality, poverty, and mental health are poorly understood. In this paper, we examine the relationships between these variables using a mixed methods study of 302 adult bisexuals from Ontario, Canada. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling to complete an internet-based survey including measures of psychological distress and minority stress. A subset of participants completed a semi-structured qualitative interview to contextualize their mental health experiences. Using information regarding household income, number of individuals supported by the income and geographic location, participants were categorized as living below or above the Canadian Low Income Cut Off (LICO). Accounting for the networked nature of the sample, participants living below the LICO had significantly higher mean scores for depression and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms and reported significantly more perceived discrimination compared to individuals living above the LICO. Grounded theory analysis of the qualitative interviews suggested four pathways through which bisexuality and poverty may intersect to impact mental health: through early life experiences linked to bisexuality or poverty that impacted future financial stability; through effects of bisexual identity on employment and earning potential; through the impact of class and sexual orientation discrimination on access to communities of support; and through lack of access to mental health services that could provide culturally competent care. These mixed methods data help us understand the income disparities associated with bisexual identity in population-based data, and suggest points of intervention to address their impact on bisexual mental health.
Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The ... more Research suggests an elevated level of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among bisexuals. The PTSD Checklist–Civilian version (PCL-C) is a self-report measure used to assess PTSD symptoms in nonmilitary persons, closely following Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria. In a study of 405 bisexuals in Ontario, Canada, the authors evaluated the PCL-C using confirmatory factor analysis and found it performed poorly. The authors caution researchers to be aware of the PCL-C's limitations. The authors concur that the three symptom clusters may not be the best way to evaluate the presence of PTSD, an issue that may be alleviated with PCL-C revisions to align with DSM-V criteria.
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Throughout history, people labelled with mental health issues have been stigmatized. This continues today and is inseparable from the language we use. Take for example the shooting of men with mental health issues by the Toronto police. The actions of the police are informed by labelling certain men’s behaviour as “crazy.” This label is accompanied by assumptions such as, “that person is dangerous.” The stereotypes of people labelled with mental health issues are countless and generally remain embedded in our language without question...
Throughout history, people labelled with mental health issues have been stigmatized. This continues today and is inseparable from the language we use. Take for example the shooting of men with mental health issues by the Toronto police. The actions of the police are informed by labelling certain men’s behaviour as “crazy.” This label is accompanied by assumptions such as, “that person is dangerous.” The stereotypes of people labelled with mental health issues are countless and generally remain embedded in our language without question...