LGBT+ Health and Wellbeing
At NHS Borders we are committed to providing inclusive and affirming healthcare for everyone, including individuals within the LGBT+ community. This page serves as a resource hub for LGBT+ health, offering information, support, and tailored services regarding drug and alcohol use.
Substance Use
Patterns in alcohol use vary among different sexual orientation and gender identities but overall alcohol use is more prevalent for LGBT+ people compared to the general population, particularly among women.
LGBT+ people are more than twice as likely to develop alcohol dependence than the general population. Specifically, gay and bisexual men are 1.5 times as likely to be alcohol dependent, lesbian and bisexual women are 4 times as likely to be alcohol dependent. Research links this higher prevalence to the stigma, and social context for LGBT+ people.
Borders alcohol and drug services are aware of the significant barriers for people accessing their services and staff are participating in LGBT+ training to ensure services feel safer and more inclusive.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
LGBT+ people are at higher risk of experiencing common mental health problems than the general population. Mental wellbeing can be impacted by experiences of discrimination and harassment, relationships with family and friends and hate crimes and incidents.
LGBT Health is Scotland’s health and wellbeing charity for LGBT+ adults (16+ in Scotland). They promote the health, wellbeing and equality of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in Scotland and operate the LGBT Helpline Scotland which people can contact for emotional support and information as well as individual support.
LGBT helpline:
- Free phone: 0800 464 7000
- Email: helpline@lbgthealth.org.uk
- Live chat: lgbthealth.org.uk (when one of the team is available, a red chat box will appear in the bottom-right corner of the website)
Safe and Inclusive Sexual Health Services
Access information on testing, prevention, and sexual health resources available in NHS Borders. Borders Sexual Health offers an inclusive service.
LGBT+ E-Learning
Scottish Drugs Forum provide LGBT+ inclusive e-learning resources, offering educational materials on LGBT+ health, cultural competence, and sensitivity training for healthcare professionals and the wider community.
Further Support Services
There are a number of organisations both locally and nationally that can provide support services, resources and information:
Scottish Borders LGBT Equality Forum
The Forum exists to provide information and guidance to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people and statutory and voluntary bodies which will impact positively on the lives of the LGBT community in the Scottish Borders. The Forum also run social events with information on both their website and Facebook page
Email: lbgtborders@gmail.com
LGBT Youth Scotland
LGBT Youth Scotland is the largest youth and community-based organisation for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Scotland. They offer information and advice, primarily for young LGBT people, but also to families, carers, schools and other supporters of young people.
Equality Network
The Equality Network is Scotland's national lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) equality and human rights charity. They have a range of resources and deliver training on LGBTI issues. The network also has an online directory of LGBTI organisations across Scotland. www.equality-network.org
Stonewall Scotland
Stonewall Scotland works with a range of stakeholders from individuals, local groups, public bodies and voluntary sector to deliver national and international work and campaigns. www.stonewallscotland.org.uk
Scottish Trans
The Scottish Trans is part of the Equality Network. It specifically works to improve gender identity and gender reassignment equality, rights and inclusion in Scotland. STA provides a number of useful resources as well as a very informative “intro to trans terms” available from their website. www.scottishtrans.org