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 Centre for Addictionand Mental Health |
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ARQ2: Question B5 - Involvement in the community
How are you involved in the lesbian, gay, bi, trans, two-spirit, intersex and/or queer (LGBTTTIQ) communities?
Relevance/intentThis item assesses the client’s connection to LGBTTTIQ communities and social supports (or lack of), to find if social isolation is an issue for the client. This item can also help determine the client’s level of internalized oppression (e.g., internalized homophobia). The degree to which a person identifies with a community is a major resiliency factor. Facing discrimination — from families and society — causes many LGBTTTIQ people to turn to their own communities for support. What’s more, some LGBTTTIQ people face double or triple marginalization (e.g., those with physical disabilities), which makes it even harder to find support. Many LGBTTTIQ people of colour may find themselves in predominately white, middle-class LGBTTTIQ communities. Rural LGBTTTIQ clients may have greater problems finding a community, and sometimes when they do find one, that community may be predominantly urban. A strong social support network is key to recovering from substance use and/or mental health problems. The gay/lesbian bar has traditionally been a social centre of LGBTTTIQ communities, offering an environment where people can meet and socialize and be safe from societal prejudice. Until recently, there were few social alternatives to the bar, rave or circuit party scenes that allowed LGBTTTIQ people to go out, relax and feel part of the community. Therapists/counsellors should determine if the client relies primarily on bars or clubs for socializing, as there is often a tremendous presence of alcohol and various other substances in these spaces. In some small communities, there are no ways to socialize with other LGBTTTIQ people. People in such communities might benefit from the Internet’s resources. Additional probes(Note: the blank _________ in the following probes should be filled in with the client’s response to item A2 or A3, e.g., gay, bisexual, transsexual.) Do you have _____________ friends? Do you go to or attend any _____________ groups or events? In what ways have you explored the _____________ communities? How comfortable do you feel in social situations involving other _____________ (people)? Do you feel isolated or separate from other _____________ (people)? Are you familiar with community resources for _____________, such as organizations, sports teams, bookstores, bars, groups, festivals, etc.? Client perceptions“I think gay people grow up believing, ‘I don’t belong. I’m a misfit. I wouldn’t be welcome there.’ It goes back to our social options being limited. If you’re straight, you can go anywhere and do anything. If you’re openly gay, you’re restricted in terms of where you can go and feel comfortable. And for a lot of people who don’t want to spend lots of time in bars or who have a lot of internalized homophobia and maybe find the social scenes uncomfortable, cutting ourselves off is sometimes the option. I think there’s probably a tremendous amount of loneliness in the gay community.” “What is there in the gay community besides the bar scene?” “I have hardly any friends and I have no ties to the gay community. I’m still trying to accept that I may be bisexual or gay, and when I come to terms with it, maybe I will make some connections.” Therapist/counsellor perceptions“I suspect in the gay and lesbian community there’s two closets: one closet for mental health and one closet for being gay. In a large hospital it’s better to play you’re straight. So you’re in the closet about being gay. But in the gay community, if you have major mental health issues, it’s better to pretend that you’re not depressed or you’re not bipolar.”
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Last updated: Mar 14, 2007 9:51 AM Published: Mar 15, 2010 7:05 PM ID#P19852 |