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Beyondblue commits to LGBT mental health |
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Written by Rachel Cook
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Monday, 11 January 2010 |
 The National LGBT Health Alliance has hailed talks between health experts and educators and national anti-depression group beyondblue a success.
Discussions took place at a roundtable meeting last week, which included executive director of the National LGBT Health Alliance, Gabi Rosenstreich, chair of the Victorian Ministerial Advisory Committee for GLBTI Health and Well-Being, Rowena Allen, headspace clinical manager Vikki Ryal, director of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health Victoria Associate Professor Anne Mitchell and Karen Price, director of Policy and Research at the Aids Council of NSW. Deputy CEO of beyondblue, Dr Nicole Highet also presented.
Gabi Rosenstreich, executive director of the National LGBT Health Alliance, told MCV:
“I was sceptical going in, as I think most of the LGBT organisations there were, but I’m genuinely pleased with the outcomes that we got.
“Beyondblue made a really firm commitment to quite an extensive package of initiatives and a substantial budget commitment and most importantly a commitment to work in partnership with LGBT organisations. I think these are all really fantastic achievements.”
Rosenstreich said the outcomes were made possible because “LGBT organisations spoke with a strong clear voice at that meeting.” She said a substantial financial commitment was made by beyondblue.
“They allocated at least two million over the next 12 to 18 months, with looking at three and five million over the next five years. They see that as a front end commitment.
“Now it’s up to working with them in the spirit of partnership and bringing this to fruition and if they don’t live up to what they are saying, then at that point we can reconsider how we approach them.”
Rosenstriech said the next step will involve a meeting between herself and Leonie Young, CEO of beyondblue, early next year.
Young said the event was a much-needed discussion with a positive result for all involved and confirmed five priority areas for action.
One was developing ongoing awareness campaigns in partnership with GLBTI organisations that highlight the prevalence of depression and disabling effects of stigma and discrimination.
TransGender Victoria spokesperson Sally Goldner, who was also in attendance, said there are still concerns that bisexual and transgender issues are not being properly addressed.
“I still have the concerns that trans and bi issues are falling too far behind,” Goldner said.
Goldner said the problem lay in perceptions of bisexual and transgender people.
“I think that people still see bi and trans as too weird, and I hate using that word, but also there is a whole range of prejudices – against bi, for instance, that it’s not ‘real’.
“People who are bi or trans need to have equal treatment. I use the phrase that for too long we have had 24 font G, 16 font L and eight font B, T and I. We’ve got to start making it all 36 font and that includes beyondblue.”
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