Bullermen and Zamis: The LGB West Indian's Perspective

Abstract

The lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) West Indian migrant experience has not been extensively investigated. As a result, practitioners may not be aware of this group's unique circumstances and thus may not be equipped to treat clients from a culturally sensitive standpoint. Considering what has been studied regarding asylum seeking, immigration issues, cultural beliefs of same-sex behavior, mental illness, help seeking, and prevalence rates of affective disorders, the authors discuss the implications on mental health this combination can yield, while providing guidelines for treatment. Areas of future research include studies of psychopathology in larger and more representative samples of West Indians in the Caribbean and in the United States, efficacy studies of treatment modalities, and the impact of internalized homophobia on mental health for LGB West Indians.

KEYWORDS:

• attitudes toward mental health and help-seeking
• attitudes toward same-sex behavior
• Caribbean immigration
• sexual orientation