XI3001 Assignment Nursing Informatics: Shaping Care with Data

Data: CDC (2024) also found that LGBTQ+ youth are at higher risk for mental health problems than their heterosexual peers and experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts at higher rates.

Information:

1. Nearly one in three (42%) LGBTQ+ high school students seriously considered suicide in the past year as compared to one in three (15%) non-LGBTQ+ students (CDC, 2024).

2. Almost five times more LGBTQ+ youth attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (The Trevor Project, 2021)

3. Discrimination, stigma, and lack of family acceptance play a major role in the heightened risk of mental health problems among LGBTQ+ youth (Stevenson et al., 2024).

4. Schools that have curriculum and/or supportive policies that include LGBTQ+ have demonstrated a decrease in bullying and better mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ students (Moran et al., 2024).

5. Gender Affirming Care is correlated with lower rates of depression and suicide attempts among transgender and nonbinary youth, as found in Tordoff et al. (2022).

Knowledge:

The results indicate that systemic issues such as social stigma and discrimination, and lack of affirming health care access, greatly contribute to mental health inequities among LGBTQ+ youth. Nurses have a unique opportunity to address these inequities through culturally competent care and by advocating for inclusive policies and through early identification of risk factors (Flaubert, 2021). The literature indicates that nurse education programs on LGBTQ+ cultural competency enhance their ability to foster supportive environments and make early referrals to mental health providers (Yu et al., 2023). In addition, embedding mental health screening within all routine adolescent screenings can help identify students at risk of mental health crises before their occurrence. Motivational interviewing, trauma-informed care, and other effective strategies foster trust and facilitate a conversation with LGBTQ+ patients. These approaches foster a more secure environment where patients feel valued and heard.

Wisdom:

1. Conduct Routine Mental Health Screenings: Incorporate sexual orientation and gender identity into initial mental health screenings and screen for depression, anxiety, and suicidality in all mental health appointments.

2. Deliver Culturally Competent Care Training: Promote continuous learning for all employees on LGBTQ+ health disparities, affirming language, and best practices in providing affirming care (Bass & Nagy, 2023).

3. Facilitate Access to Gender-Affirming Resources: Partner with behavioral health providers and community groups to meet LGBTQ+ youth with counseling, peer support groups, and gender affirming medical services as needed.

4. Facilitate Access to Gender-Affirming Resources: Collaborate with behavioral health specialists and community organizations to connect LGBTQ+ youth with counseling, peer support groups, and gender-affirming medical services as needed.