Ensuring That Marginalized Young People Feel Welcome, Understood, and Empowered in Health Services: A Qualitative Examination of the Service Needs of Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People

Shakara Liddelow-Hunt; Ashleigh Lin; Yael Perry; Braden Hill; Bep Uink

doi:10.1177/10497323251329765

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Ensuring That Marginalized Young People Feel Welcome, Understood, and Empowered in Health Services: A Qualitative Examination of the Service Needs of Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Ensuring That Marginalized Young People Feel Welcome, Understood, and Empowered in Health Services: A Qualitative Examination of the Service Needs of Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People

Shakara Liddelow-Hunt, Ashleigh Lin, Yael Perry, Braden Hill and Bep Uink

Qualitative health research, Online First

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/10497323251329765

PMID: 40245305

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Abstract

well-being

service provision

Indigenous

LGBTQA+

qualitative

mental health

Aboriginal

A lack of appropriate care and discrimination in healthcare settings likely compounds the existing risks to mental health and well-being for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer/questioning, and asexual (LGBTQA+) young people. The current study contributes findings from Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people’s perspectives on their health service needs and preferences. Data consists of qualitative interviews and focus groups with N = 14 Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people aged 14–25 years in Boorloo (Perth), Western Australia. The data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Analysis identified three major themes: (1) Unmet need for “whole self” care, (2) Communicating to young people that they will be welcome, safe, and cared for, and (3) Engaging communities to address structural inequalities. These findings shed light on the almost complete lack of Aboriginal LGBTQA+ youth-focused care available and point to the importance of health workers and, especially, mental health professionals understanding the broader sociohistorical context that impacts young people’s well-being. Ultimately, while many Aboriginal LGBTQA+ young people have positive experiences of receiving care for their health and well-being, there persists a feeling of being unable to wholly exist in healthcare settings.

Details

Title: Ensuring That Marginalized Young People Feel Welcome, Understood, and Empowered in Health Services: A Qualitative Examination of the Service Needs of Aboriginal LGBTQA+ Young People
Authors/Creators: Shakara Liddelow-Hunt - The University of Western Australia
Ashleigh Lin - The University of Western Australia
Yael Perry - The Kids Research Institute Australia
Braden Hill - Edith Cowan University, Mount Lawley, WA, Australia
Bep Uink - Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet, Kurongkurl Katitjin, Centre for Indigenous Australian Education and Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA, Australia
Publication Details: Qualitative health research, Online First
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Number of pages: 15
Identifiers: 991005765127607891
Murdoch Affiliation: Kulbardi Aboriginal Centre
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.21 Psychiatry; 1.21.1363 Mental Health Stigma
Web Of Science research areas: Information Science & Library Science; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; Social Sciences, Biomedical; Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general