Stigma and Discrimination Resources

Family Diversity Projects, Inc.

In Our Own Voice

Mental Health Services Act Oversight & Accountability Commission (MHSAOAC)

Open Minds Open Doors

Somebody’s Someone

The Shaken Tree: Families Living with Mental Illness

What a Difference a Friend Makes

Three New guides on Supporting GLBTQI Individuals with Mental Health Illnesses

Introducing Three New Guides On Supporting GLBTQI Individuals With Mental Illnesses

"A Mental Health Recovery and Community Integration Guide for GLBTQI Individuals: What You Need to Know"

This 12-page colorful booklet covers a range of key issues in mental health recovery and community integration, such as treatment and rehabilitation, financial support, housing, employment, and peer support, with specific information to address the unique needs of Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning, and Intersex (GLBTQI) individuals with a mental illness. The resource guide includes:

 Information and Helpful Services for Achieving Recovery and Community Integration

 Treatment and Rehabilitation Tips

 Suggestions for Accessing Services in Housing, Employment, Socialization, and Peer Support

 Self-Help and Advocacy Information

To download this resource guide visit: http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=217.

"GLBTQI Mental Health: Recommendations for Policies and Services"

This companion guide provides important considerations for service providers and policy makers, including an assessment of the barriers faced by individuals in the GLBTQI community who are seeking mental health care and practical strategies to address these obstacles. The information is based on both a growing body of literature on the topic and the focus groups conducted by the authors. This resource guide includes:

 Strategies to Address Barriers and Provide Supports for Promoting Recovery and Community Integration

 Recommendations for Policy Makers and Providers

 Resources for Service Providers, Policy Makers and Advocates

To download this resource guide visit: http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=222.

These two NEW GLBTQI Recovery and Community Integration Resource Guides were developed by the UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) with feedback and guidance from focus groups conducted by the authors with the Pink & Blues support group (Philadelphia) and the NAMI GLBT Leaders Group.

Hard copies of these guides may also be ordered through the bookstore on the NAMI website (http://www.nami.org/store).

The UPenn Collaborative and the Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Working Together to Address the Disparities in the Delivery of Behavioral Health Services to GLBTQI Individuals with a Mental Illness

The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare (DPW) and its Office of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (OMHSAS) have recently acted to address the disparities in the delivery of behavioral health services between the GLBTQI population and the larger population served by the Commonwealth's service network. With facilitation and consultation provided through a contract to the UPenn Collaborative on Community Integration, the Deputy Secretary of OMHSAS invited representatives of the GLBTQI consumer communities and their advocates to form a workgroup that would make recommendations to DPW/OMHSAS on how to ensure that OMHSAS, county mental health programs, behavioral health managed care organizations, and mental health provider agencies reduce disparities in outcomes between GLBTQI individuals with a mental illness and the general population.

On July 20th, 2009, the Workgroup published Recommendations on Issues of Access to and Inclusion in Behavioral Health Services for GLBTQI Consumers, calling on OMHSAS to pursue three goals:

1. Protect GLBTQI individuals with a mental illness from mistreatment;

2. Ensure that OMHSAS and contracted providers offer welcoming environments for GLBTQI individuals with a mental illness; and

3. Ensure clinically competent behavioral health care for GLBTQI individuals with a mental illness.

The Workgroup recommended that OMHSAS take these priority actions in pursuit of the goals:

 Adopt a Non-Discrimination Policy

 Adopt a policy against "Conversion Therapy"

 Adopt an Appropriate Services Policy, defining criteria for competent providers Conduct training for an affirming environment of care

 Put data collection in place at every stage to measure needs and outcomes

 Assign an internal point-of-contact to coordinate this work

OMHSAS has been very welcoming of the recommendations, and has assured the Workgroup that implementation will be a priority despite budget cuts. The Workgroup will continue to apply for grants for implementation in order to conduct complementary outside activities, including evaluation and training to complement, reinforce, and keep an advocate's eye around OMHSAS' activities. To download this document, visit: http://www.upennrrtc.org/resources/view.php?tool_id=223 . For more information contact Rita Cisneros at rita@pmhca.org.