Back to Search
Start Over
An Exploration of Satisfaction with Mental Health Counseling Services in Western Australia Among Sexuality and Gender Diverse Youth.
- Source :
-
Journal of Homosexuality . May2024, p1-26. 26p. 1 Illustration, 1 Chart. - Publication Year :
- 2024
-
Abstract
- Clinically significant psychological distress affects approximately 29.3% of Australian adolescents and 80.6% of sexuality and/or gender diverse youth (SGD-Y). Often, SGD-Y experience inadequate access and lower satisfaction with mental health services, stemming from age- and sexuality and/or gender diversity-status. Accordingly, exploration of factors affecting SGD-Y’s access to, and satisfaction with, mental health services is critical. Using a social constructionist lens, we explored factors supporting SGD-Y’s satisfaction with mental health services, and how these needs are or could be met. Seven LGBTQA+ youth aged 15 to 21 who received counseling in Western Australia in the last year, recruited via a university student participant pool and community organizations, participated in semi-structured interviews via video-conference, phone call, or SMS. Reflexive thematic analysis was inductively applied to participants’ verbatim accounts. Satisfaction was tied to participants’ sense of control over their healthcare-system experiences, shaped by four themes: person-centered support during the service-access process, resources to guide the search for services, confidence in therapists, and healthcare-system organization. Practices and policies supporting SGD-Y’s self-determination during their service access may allow for empowering and personally meaningful therapeutic experiences. Developers of policies and initiatives may need to adopt a systems approach to foster SGD-Y’s self-determination as they access services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00918369
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Journal of Homosexuality
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 177644720
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/00918369.2024.2360611