Stakeholder Engagement to Increase Access of Mental Health and Substance Use Services Among Equity Deserving Groups

Those who identify as Indigenous and/or two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, and additional sexual orientations and gender identities (2SLGBTQIA+) are at a higher risk of struggling with mental health concerns. COVID-19 has highlighted challenges that already existed in accessing mental healthcare for people who identify as Indigenous and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Indigenous Peoples often experience a cultural clash as well as systemic racism when accessing care through mainstream services. Those from the 2SLGBTQIA+ community are often faced with discrimination as well as care that invalidates a person's gender identity and/or sexual orientation when accessing services for mental health concerns. The proposed project aims to understand current barriers in accessing care through the Mental Health and Addiction Program at St. Joseph's Healthcare Hamilton (SJHH) for those who identify as Indigenous and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. Our proposed project will involve at least six meetings with people who may be interested in receiving mental health services and are from Indigenous community organizations as well as those from 2SLGBTQIA+ organizations in the community to hear their perspectives on barriers to care through the Mental Health and Addiction Program at SJHH. The findings from this proposed project will help to plan and develop programs through the Mental Health and Addiction Program at SJHH that will better serve those who are Indigenous and/or 2SLGBTQIA+. This work could be expanded to other equity-deserving groups in the future to create equitable and accessible mental healthcare for all.