Health & Pride: It's Time for a Check-Up

We’re now halfway through Pride Month and in keeping with our Ogilvy Health line of work, I think it is due time to talk about our health, and especially what health means for much of the LGBTQIA2S+ community. Even though we’ve seen Canada make substantial progress in this area, there remain many disparities in social and health outcomes across our population, which is something we can turn our focus toward here at Ogilvy.

Equitable health services are extremely important to us and our work, and we can see how the discrimination, bias, and harassment that are still pervasive in the LGBTQIA2S+ community, create barriers to accessing those health services. Did you know that LGBTQIA2S+ communities experience:?

Higher rates of mental health concerns, including depression, anxiety, and substance use;?

LGBTQIA2S+ youth are 2-3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual, cisgender peers.?

Racialized LGBTQIA2S+ individuals have mental health needs nearly 5% higher than non-racialized LGBTQIA2S+ people, and 16% higher compared to cis-hetero-non-racialized people.?

One Ontario-based study found 47% of trans people aged 16-24 had considered suicide recently, with 19% attempting suicide within the past year. This is critical to note, as the trans population in particular face many of the same challenges as the rest of the LGBTQIA2S+ community, and also have the added challenges of accessing transition-related healthcare.?

Physical health disparities as well. We see lower screening rates and higher instances of certain cancers and chronic conditions; and higher rates of heart disease and chronic and infectious diseases across the whole LGBTQIA2S+ population.?

These statistics tell a story, one that shows how limited knowledge of LGBTQIA2S+ specific needs among healthcare providers results in underuse of important – even crucial – health services.?

Something that makes me optimistic in the face of all this is that every single year we see more education provided to healthcare professionals and a greater interest in doing better by the medical community.?

So what part can we play??

Let’s continue to drive social change via representation in our work, and in our industry. We know how essential representation is in helping to break biases and destigmatize stereotypes, so let’s keep it top of mind when creating all of our work. Visual representation of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and prioritizing inclusivity are ways we can help impact the physical and mental health of the community. Inclusion leads to normalcy, and normalcy leads to less violence, less mental and physical abuse, and fewer unhealthy coping behaviours.?

We can embrace our borderless identities, and advocate for our health and our loved ones’ health. This means seeking care, speaking up, asking questions, being open, and sharing our true concerns. It means going for screenings and encouraging those around us to do the same. It especially means not settling for sub-par care.?

Progress is made one day at a time, and I’m confident we can be part of that progress. Healthcare professionals might still be learning to navigate the system – and the right conversations – for all their patients, but they are here to support your health outcomes and we even have a Health team here to support healthcare professionals. We are all the drivers of our own health, and the more we embrace our bodies and our identities; and engage in open communication with others and with our doctors, the greater the positive impact is on health for everyone.?

Wishing a very happy and healthy Pride.

Nadine Lafond President, Ogilvy Health Canada