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Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) individuals are often faced with societal challenges that can lead to mental health or substance abuse issues. They may be misunderstood or mistreated when seeking services because of a lack of training in offering culturally sensitive treatment by service providers. A program, the Rainbow Heights Club, was developed to support LGBTQ individuals with a mental health diagnosis. All of the members are in treatment for their mental health and/or substance abuse problems, but prior to the development of the program did not have a place to feel accepted, supported, or have a sense of community. Members were surveyed determine if Rainbow Heights was helpful in maintaining themselves in the community. Results indicated that 75% of members are more consistent in following prescribed treatments, keeping them free from inpatient hospitalization, and 79% reported being clean and sober since coming to the Club.

Background Adolescents account for 1 in 4 sexually transmitted infections (STIs) diagnosed annually in the United States. Many adolescents seek care in emergency departments (ED) for acute medical problems which offers an opportunity to screen for risk behaviors including sexual health. As emergency medicine provider time is focused on the acute medical problem, using technology may be an acceptable and effective alternative to identify and decrease screening risky sexual behaviors. Methods Adolescents aged 13–18 years participated in a randomized controlled trial of an electronic health behavior screening and feedback tool in a pediatric emergency department. All participants were surveyed about risky behaviors at the baseline ED visit and 3 months later, and only intervention arm participants received immediate individualized electronic feedback about their risk behaviors, normative comparisons and brief educational information, including on birth control and condoms. In this secondary analysis, we used Chi-squared analyses to compare differences in 3-month STI risk defined as sexually active and reporting inconsistent condom use. Results A total of 296 adolescents including 55% females enrolled in the study with 72% (n=212) completing the 3 month follow-up survey. At baseline 23% (69/296) reported ever having sex and 67% (46/69) reported using a condom at last sex. At follow-up 16% (17/105) of the intervention group and 23% (25/107) of controls reported having sex in the last 3 months. Of those sexually active, 35% (6/17) of intervention group compared to 56% (14/25) of control group reported not always using condoms in the last 3 months (p=0.19). STI risk at 3 months was 6% (6/105) for intervention participants compared to 13% (14/107) for controls (p=0.07). Conclusion Electronic sexual health screening in the emergency department increases opportunities to assess, identify, and intervene in risky sexual behaviors in adolescents and may contribute to a decrease in risky behaviors. Disclosure No significant relationships.

Social work students placed on a multidisciplinary team will be exposed to diverse ways of interpreting a case, which is an invaluable experience. Placement in a multidisciplinary setting can be an excellent way to engage students in teamwork. Supervisors need to adequately address various aspects in working on a team with students. A survey of 44 bachelor of social work students placed in an internship designed to help them learn about community organizing, program development, or fund-raising revealed that 41 students wanted to better understand the roles of different disciplines in service provision. Although 33 students reported participating in multidisciplinary team meetings and 23 reported discussing working on a team in supervision, less than half (21) reported that they discussed how different disciplines work together to assist clients. This article will discuss the importance of learning to work with other disciplines during training to prepare students for future work in social services.

This chapter discusses some of the critical factors in identifying and providing for the unique needs and services of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT), or sexual minority, client. Many of the ideas that followed in mental health treatment have their roots in the interpretation of moral treatment. Community education of treatment needs of those with mental health problems has long been desired. Professional organizations for physicians, psychologists, and social workers have been promoting culturally competent care in their training and policy directives. The service provider must be able to adapt clinical interventions to help build relationships, make assessments, and provide social work services that acknowledge and celebrate cultural differences. LGBT people have been identified by the United States Department of Health and Human Services as an at-risk population as a result of having social, economic, and environmental disadvantages. Many LGBT clients seek help after being discriminated against at the individual or institutional level.

This article reports on an original research study about consumer attitudes toward and preferences about their mental health care. It provides empirical findings that demonstrate that deriving information directly from consumers of mental health services offers an important perspective on what services and interventions are necessary to promote psychosocial rehabilitation. Drawing on a research study of self-perception of needs among a sample of 133 consumers diagnosed with serious mental illness and who have been discharged to the community, the findings suggest that consumers view their lives holistically and complexly with an equal concern for their social as well as clinical needs. Engraining consumers as partners in planning treatment is essential if relevant services are to be provided.