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LGBTI Medical & Mental Health

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Gender Identity Disorder Webinar

  • Issues related to gender identity are discussed. For access to transcript of webinar, go to http://nicic.gov/Library/025870. (Please wait 1-2 minutes for the slides to appear.)
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The medical and mental health care of the adult in-custody lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population is a complicated topic requiring an understanding of a broad set of issues.

When addressing the management of LGBTI offenders in the custody of your agency, ask yourself the following fundamental questions:
- How and by whom should this individual be assessed?
- What sort of specific medical or mental health services will be required to meet the statutorily mandated duty to treat?
- Are the staff working in the medical and mental health units culturally competent in dealing with LGBTI patients?

In addition to the items above, you should be aware that:
- Groups such as lesbian and bisexual women, generally receive less routine care than other women, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
- Men who engage in sex with other men account for a higher proportion of HIV/AIDS cases than any other demographic group in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- The use of hormone therapies and other treatments for gender identity disorder are now being mandated by the courts in many jurisdictions.

Potential risk factors in the management of the LGBTI population include:
- Higher rates of depression and anxiety
- Higher rates of suicide and suicide attempts
- Potential self-mutilation due to extreme distress and/or psychiatric disorders

It is important to remember that the experiences of LGBTI individuals are not uniform and are shaped by factors of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographical location and age, any of which can have an effect on health-related concerns and needs, according to the Institute of Medicine, March 2011.

Links to current medical and mental health updates and information from government and other organizations are available on this page for your reference.

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Issues related to gender identity are discussed. For access to transcript of webinar, go to http://nicic.gov/Library/025870. (Please wait 1-2 minutes for the slides to appear.)

Direct Link: http://nic.learn.com/files/upload/webinars/Gender%20Identity%20Disorder%20Webinar.wmv

Recommended Reading

Date Title Type
2011
Document preview
Standards of Care for the Health of Transsexual, Transgender, and Gender Nonconforming People
By World Professional Association for Transgender Health, Inc. (WPATH) (Minneapolis, MN).
“The overall goal of the SOC [Standards of Care] is to provide clinical guidance for health professionals to assist transsexual, transgender, and gender nonconforming people with safe and effective pathways to achieving lasting personal comfort with their gendered selves, in order to maximize their overall health, psychological well-being, and self-fulfillment … While this is primarily a document for health professionals, the SOC may also be used by individuals, their families, and social instit... Read More
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120 pages
2011
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Gender Identity Disorder Evaluation and Treatment
By Kendig, Newton E.; Samuels, Charles E., Jr.. U.S. Bureau of Prisons (Washington, DC).
A memorandum regarding the evaluation and treatment of inmates with Gender Identity Disorder (GID) is presented. It is to be immediately implemented in response to a lawsuit settled with Vanessa Adams, a FEDERAL Bureau of Prisons (BOP) inmate at FMC Butler (NC) who has GID. “In summary, inmates in the custody of the Bureau with a possible diagnosis of GID will receive a current individualized assessment and evaluation. Treatment options will not be precluded solely due to level of services recei... Read More
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4 pages
2010
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Opportunities to Diagnose, Treat, and Prevent HIV in the Criminal Justice System
By Beckwith, Curt G.; Zaller, Nickolas D.; Fu, Jeannia J.; Montague, Brian T.; Rich, Josiah D.. National Institute of Health (NIH) Public Access (Bethesda, MD).
HIV is present 5 times more in correctional facilities than in the general population, while AIDS cases run 2.5 times. This makes it imperative to stop the further spread of HIV and AIDS to the community from prisons and jails. “This article reviews the current state of delivering HIV testing, prevention, treatment, and transition services to incarcerated populations in the United States. It concludes with summary recommendations for research and practice to improve the health of inmates and the... Read More
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13 pages
2009
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The HIV and AIDS in Prison Handbook: What Every CDCR Prisoner Should Know
Prison Law Office (San Quentin, CA).
Answers to 23 questions are provided regarding HIV and AIDS. Topics discussed range from what HIV and AIDS are to symptoms, treatment, getting tested, housing, early release, to filing a challenge to violations of personal rights.... Read More
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44 pages
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