Asking the right questions: CAMH Annual Report 2004

CAMH Annual Report

Farzana Doctor and Angela Barbara with Asking the Right Questions 2, which they developed.

If you want to know how to ask the question, then go to the source. That is precisely what Angela Barbara, Research Analyst, and Farzana Doctor, Manager of Rainbow Services at CAMH did when they set up focus groups around the province to find out what questions lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, transgendered, two-spirit, intersex and queer (LGBTTTIQ) individuals/communities wanted care providers to ask about their sexual orientation and gender identity.

CAMH's Rainbow Services provides assessment and counselling to LGBTTTIQ individuals, couples and groups who are concerned about their use of alcohol or other drugs. To offer clients the most effective addiction or mental health treatment, Doctor and her colleagues knew that care providers needed to be aware of a client's sexual orientation or gender identity, but were often unsure how to raise questions about these areas with the client.

When they asked clients and community partners about how clients should be questioned, they found out helpful information. The most beneficial was: "Be direct. Ask us what you want to know." Out of their testimonials came Asking the Right Questions in 2001 and Asking the Right Questions 2 in 2004, with the research co-ordinated by Barbara.

One client admitted the following, as noted in Asking the Right Questions 2: "When I found out about an LGBTTTIQ-positive program, I was happy. I was ecstatic to learn of a program where I knew I wouldn't be judged. I could open up easily and get the help I needed."

The revised manual addresses substance use and mental health issues. Doctor and her colleagues havealready begun training care providers around the province to address the shortage of services to the LGBTTTIQ community.

"With this guide, we have the potential to change the face of addiction and mental health treatment in Ontario and make it a more positive experience for people who are LGBTTTIQ," says Doctor.

An imaginary case study

Dani* is addicted to cocaine. She's been abusing drugs since she was 13, around the same time that she first became aware that she was a lesbian, and was dealing with a great deal of stress and oppression. Now that she's 20, she wants to stop using and make something of her life. In a positive move, she visits a counsellor. He asks if she's sexually active and she says "yes." Continuing with his questions, he asks if she uses birth control. She decides that she'll just say "yes" again to avoid divulging that she's a lesbian.
In a move that could have been more helpful to Dani, he could have instead asked, "Are you currently dating, sexually active or in a relationship? If yes, is (are) your partner(s) female, male, bisexual [and other choices…]?"

Then, he would have been a step closer to creating a positive rapport and understanding of Dani's problems.

* Dani is an imaginary client, yet her situation is similar to many others.

• Print