For Mental Health Professionals

• PRACTICE GUIDELINES FOR PSYCHOLOGISTS WHO WORK WITH LGBT PATIENTS: The American Psychological Association (APA) has established new guidelines for psychologists who work with LGBT patients. For the complete guidelines, including the rationale and the application in practice, please go to: http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/guidelines.aspx.
  
  
• PREJUDICE, SOCIAL STRESS, AND MENTAL HEALTH IN LESBIAN, GAY AND BISEXUAL POPULATIONS: CONCEPTUAL ISSUES AND RESEARCH EIDENCE: Ilan H. Meyer, Columbia University. Retrieved from National Institutes of Health website as follows: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2072932/pdf/nihms32623.pdf
  Published in final edited form as: Psychol Bull. 2003 September; 129(5); 674-697.
  
  In this article the author reviews research evidence on the prevalence on mental disorders in lesbians, gay men, and bisexuals (LGBs) and shows, using meta-analyses, that LGBs have a higer prevalence of mental disorders than heterosexuals. The author offers a conceptual framework for understanding this excess in prevalence of disorder in terms of minority stress - explaining that stigma, prejudice, and discrimination create a hostile and stressful social environment that causes mental health problems. The model describes stress processes, including the experience of prejudice events, expectations of rejection, hiding and concealing, internalized homophobia, and ameliorative coping processes.
  
  Click here to download a .pdf of this article.
  
  
• SEXUAL ORIENTATION CHANGE EFFORTS:  The American Psychological Association (APA) Task Force on Appropriate Therapeutic Responses to Sexual Orientation conducted a systematic review of the peer-reviewed journal literature on sexual orientation change efforts (SOCE) and concluded that efforts to change sexual orientation are unlikely to be successful and involve some risk of harm, contrary to the claims of SOCE practitioners and advocates. To read the Executive Summary and obtain a downloadable copy of the report please go to:  http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/sexual-orientation.aspx.
  
  
• LESBIAN AND GAY PARENTING: The American Psychological Association (APA) has developed a publication for the use of clinicians, researchers, students, lawyers, and parents involved in legal and policy issues related to lesbian and gay parenting. The publication, Lesbian and Gay Parenting, includes a summary of research findings on lesbian mothers, gay fathers, and their children, an annotated bibliography of the literature, and additional resources relevant to lesbian and gay parenting, including APA amicus briefs, professional association policies, and contact information for relevant organizations.  For a copy of the publication, go to:  http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/parenting.aspx.
  
  
• PRACTICE BRIEF:  PROVIDING SERVICES AND SUPPORTS FOR YOUTH WHO ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, TRANSGENDER, QUESTIONING, INTERSEX, OR TWO-SPIRIT:
  This Practice Brief, developed by the American Psychological Association, is for policymakers, administrators, and providers seeking to learn more about (1) youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, intersex, or two-spirit (LGBTQI2-S) and (2) how to develop culturally and linguistically competent programs and services to meet their needs and preferences. http://www.apa.org/pi/lgbt/resources/lgbt-youth-support.pdf
  
  
• AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION DIVISION 44:
  
  The purpose of Division 44 of the American Psychological Association is:
  • To advance the contributions of psychology as a discipline to the understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered issues through basic and applied research
  • To promote education and training in matters of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered issues including special issues associated with practice, research, education and training, and the public interest
  • To promote the development and delivery of affirmatie psychological services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people
  • To use psychological knowledge to advocate for the advancement of the public interest and the welfare of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people
  • To inform the general public about research, education and training, practice, and advocacy on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered issues
    
    
• For downloadable .pdf copies of current and archived newsletters of Division 44, go to: http://www.apadivision44.org/publications/newsletter.php.
  
  For additional information about Division 44, go to: http://www.apadivision44.org/index.php.