10 April 2020
Rainbow Health Victoria today released a briefing paper summarising the current research knowledge relevant to understanding how COVID-19 might impact on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) health and wellbeing.
Overall, existing health disparities may be relevant to disease outcomes, and mental health, family violence and social inequality may be made worse by the measures required for a public health response. The key issues presented in this paper are relevant for all those commissioning, coordinating or delivering health or community services in the current context.
Rainbow Health Victoria argues that there is a need to:
- Acknowledge the potential for COVID-19 to have a disproportionate impact on LGBTIQ communities
- Promote and enhance LGBTIQ community-controlled and LGBTIQ-inclusive service delivery
- Develop messages about community resilience and increase initiatives to provide community support through adaptive means
- We also encourage organisations to share observations and practice knowledge to build our shared understanding of the impacts on LGBTIQ communities in real time. This will be essential to inform effective ways to respond rapidly through research, policy, resources and programs.
Please share this resource far and wide.
Download or view our Research Briefing Paper on COVID-19 LGBTIQ impacts [PDF, 718KB].