Lesbian Uses of and Satisfaction with Mental Health Services

ABSTRACT

In response to the dearth of specific information about lesbians' health status and practices in the health literature, a national study utilizing a self-administered questionnaire was conducted in 1987 by four associates of the Fenway Community Health Center in Boston to access data in these areas. The questionnaire solicited information about demographics, health practices, stress in personal and work lives, mental and physical health problems, sexual practices, family history of health related problems, and genetic attributes hypothesized to be related to “gayness.” Questionnaires from 1,633 lesbian women provided the database for the study.

This paper discusses the portion of the survey that dealt with mental health services and life experiences. Past studies that investigated mental health needs of lesbians focused on the quality of treatment by mental health providers, rates of suicide attempts, and alcoholism. This paper compares these past findings with the responses of the lesbians in this national, community-based study. Findings indicate that although a significant number of the lesbian women in this sample had been in therapy, they sought out therapy as a coping strategy to deal with similar issues as other women, i.e., depression and relationships. Suicide attempts decreased considerably after adolescence and “coming out.” Rates of alcohol use and abuse, although difficult to compare with other studies, were higher than other women but similar to other studies investigating a community sample of lesbians. Even with a high family history of alcoholism, less than 5 percent reported having sought out therapy to deal with any issues of alcohol or drug use.