1Cademy - Alcohol use and psychological distress among sexual and gender minority students: Public Health Implications

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Alcohol use and psychological distress among sexual and gender minority students: Public Health Implications

Considering that SGM young persons and university students are facing elevated mental health and substance use challenges during COVID-19, which may lead to new substance use disorders and relapses of existing substance use disorders, it is critical to enhance provider training and expand implementation of SGM-affirmative mental health and substance use prevention practice to meet rising needs of this population.
SGM-affirmative practice may increase engagement and retention of SGM clients in substance use and mental health care during the time of COVID-19 and beyond.
The study findings highlight the importance of SGM-affirmative practice approaches in the context of COVID-19 that elevate the needs of AFAB SGM college students.
It is further essential to ensure that existing patient data collection procedures adequately capture the SGM identity information necessary to identify these high risk groups.
Higher education institutions can further impact the prevention of alcohol (and other substance) use and mental health burdens among SGM university students by providing affirmative mental health, social, and community support resources.

Updated 2021-06-01

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