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2SLGBTQI people in Canada face ongoing challenges when it comes to healthcare. Even though Canada has a universal healthcare system, many 2SLGBTQI individuals struggle to access care, especially mental health and gender-affirming services. High rates of anxiety and depression are common in these communities, but many delay seeking care because of costs, fear of discrimination, fear of being outed, or concerns about being treated badly. This fear can lead to delays in diagnoses, not following medical advice, or ignoring healthcare needs. For 2SLGBTQI people of colour, these issues are made worse by racism within the healthcare system, leading to more frustration, feelings of insecurity, and uncertainty.
The pandemic made these challenges even worse by limiting access to mental health services and gender-affirming care. Like in many other places, 2SLGBTQI people in Canada face unique healthcare challenges that are shaped by both broader systemic issues and specific needs related to their identities. As a result, the healthcare system remains unsafe and unwelcoming for many 2SLGBTQI people, especially for trans and nonbinary individuals.
Trans and gender-diverse people face even more hurdles, such as long wait times, inconsistent coverage, and a lack of healthcare providers who are knowledgeable about gender-affirming care. This lack of expertise among healthcare providers can result in poor treatment or not meeting their specific needs, which leads to emotional distress and unmet healthcare needs.
Accessing care is especially difficult for 2SLGBTQI people in rural areas and older individuals. People in rural areas face extra challenges due to long travel distances and limited healthcare options. Older 2SLGBTQI adults often encounter unfriendly healthcare providers and lack spaces that are welcoming for them. The need to travel to cities for care makes it even harder for them to access the healthcare they need regularly.
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).
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