“If You Can Just Break the Stigma Around It”: LGBTQI+ Migrants’ Experiences of Stigma and Mental Health

Abstract

Migrants, that is people who experience forced displacement or move based on being lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, two-spirit, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+), experience increased trauma and stigma when compared to heterosexual and cisgender people. The aim of this paper is to highlight LGBTQI+ migrants’ experiences of health and social care encounters in Canada. Gadamerian hermeneutics and an intersectionality lens was used to understand LGBTQI+ migrants’ experiences. A total of 16 semi-structured individual interviews were conducted with LGBTQI+ migrants. Themes of stigma and discrimination were identified as (1) “I never went back”: Stigma as an exclusionary experience, (2) “Is [your country of birth] really that bad”: Fear, safety, and cultural stigma, and (3) “The circle … is not going to fix my life”: LGBTQI+ migrants’ call for affirming care. Results suggest that health and social care practices are stigmatizing and discriminatory which negatively impacts LGBTQI+ migrant mental health. Salient practices for promoting mental health included affirming LGBTQI+ identities and orientations through health and social care practices that are culturally safe as well as trauma and violence informed.

Experiences of LGBTQIA+ migrants with nurses and other healthcare professionals in Canada

“…The self‐identified regions of birth were Africa (2), China (1), Europe (1), Korea (2), Mexico (1), South America (1), Taiwan (1), the Middle East (3), the Philippines (1), and the United States of America (1). The participants migrated to Canada for various reasons 28 . The time since migration to Canada ranged from one to 22 years ago.…”

“…Additionally, 15 participants reported challenges to their mental health arising from interactions with NHCPs, in some cases, related to a history of trauma and stigma. These specific experiences are discussed in more detail in a separate publication 28 …”

“…The participants migrated to Canada for various reasons. 28 The time since migration to Canada ranged from one to 22 years ago.…”

“…These findings support the recommendations from previous studies and build on specific suggestions to improve NHCPs' practice and education. In particular, due to stigma and discrimination, support needs to be placed for NHCPs who also identify as LGBTQIA+ migrants 28 …”

“…In particular, due to stigma and discrimination, support needs to be placed for NHCPs who also identify as LGBTQIA + migrants. 28 LGBTQIA+ migrants' assumption that their lives will be safe upon arriving in Canada is erroneous. 29 While some social service providers, counselors, nurses, doctors, and mental healthcare professionals were supportive, some have demonstrated unsupportive and discriminatory behavior towards LGBTQIA+ migrants.…”