Health and Mental Health
A Brief on 2SLGBTQI Realities and Policy in Canada
Every policy issue is a 2SLGBTQI issue.
2SLGBTQI communities’ connection to healthcare in Canada is a crucial and evolving topic. In Canada, we have witnessed intensified “rates of mental health disorders and concerns among 2SLGBTQI people.” (Seida, 2023). The pandemic also magnified previously known barriers to mental healthcare access, such as a lack of available and competent providers or de-prioritizing healthcare services such as gender affirming care. As in many parts of the world, 2SLGBTQI people in Canada face unique healthcare challenges, which are influenced by both systemic issues and specific needs related to their identities. As a result, the mental healthcare system continues to create unsafe and exclusionary spaces for 2SLGBTQI individuals, particularly for trans and nonbinary individuals (Jakubiec, 2023). This resource highlights how 2SLGBTQI individuals navigate healthcare and mental health in Canada.
Below we offer an in-depth look at how the issue of healthcare and mental health impact 2SLGBTQI individuals. In particular, we discuss 2SLGBTQI individuals’ diverse experiences with:
- Discrimination and stigma in healthcare settings
- Healthcare access for gender diverse communities
- Providers
- Sexual health and HIV care
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Quick Facts
- 82% of 2SLGBTQI individuals frequently feel anxious, and 71% experience depression or hopelessness (Seida, 2023).
- 61.5% of 2SLGBTQI individuals delay mental healthcare due to affordability (Seida, 2023).
- Many 2SLGBTQI people avoid medical visits due to past negative experiences, fear of being outed, or discrimination (Seida, 2023).
- Long wait times, especially for trans and nonbinary people, cause emotional distress (Wells et al., 2024).
- Many healthcare providers lack training on 2SLGBTQI health needs, leading to inadequate care (Seida, 2023).
- Rural older 2SLGBTQI individuals face barriers to care due to travel challenges (Jakubiec et al., 2023; Pang & Maclennan, 2023).
The Context of Healthcare in Canada, Explained
Healthcare in Canada operates under a publicly funded, universal system called Medicare (Government of Canada, 2023). Medicare ensures that all Canadian citizens and permanent residents have access to medically necessary services regardless of their income or geography, as outlined in Canada’s Health Act (1984) (Government of Canada, 2023).
Healthcare is primarily the responsibility of provincial and territorial governments, with the federal government providing funding through taxation (Government of Canada, 2023). Services such as doctor visits, hospital stays, surgeries, and diagnostic tests are covered, though some services such as prescription drugs, dental care, and vision care may vary by province and age-demographic. Individuals in Canada typically access healthcare through their family doctor for general health and preventive care, with referrals to specialists as needed. Emergency care is also covered, with some provinces regulating non-emergency services like ambulance costs.
Mental healthcare is severely underfunded and is not engrained in Canada’s universal healthcare system. Unlike other medical services available to citizens and permanent residents free of charge, a significant financial barrier exists for many individuals in Canada to access mental healthcare (Government of Canada, 2024).
The Canadian healthcare system is also reeling from under-funding and strain from the COVID-19 pandemic (Tasker, 2022). Many hospitals across the country are over-capacity, lack trained personnel, face extreme delays for surgeries and procedures, coupled with an increased need for mental health related services. At this time, the Canadian healthcare system is facing a crisis (Tasker, 2022).
Egale Canada’s Health-Related Research
- Healthcare access experiences and needs among LBQ women, trans, and nonbinary people in Canada: A research report
- Queering Mental Health Supports in Canada: Priorities for Research, Policy & Practice
- Aging with Affirmation: An Exploration of the Healthcare and Social Service Experiences and Needs of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Older Adults in Canada
Others in this Series
This series A Brief on 2SLGBTQI Realities and Policy in Canada raises awareness on how key topics across Canada impact 2SLGBTQI individuals and communities in both diverse and intersecting ways. This information is broken down and offered here to support more engagement and encourage 2SLGBTQI communities to participate in these issues that impact us all. Each brief aims to empower 2SLGBTQI communities and allies to step forward and realize our society’s potential, together.