Marginalized Populations and Trauma
Health disparities and microagression face by the LGBT community in and outside of the Armed Forces for Civilians and Veterans
In comparison to the non-veteran population, there are more significant signs and results of traumatic exposures that correlate with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for military veterans (Livingston et al., 2019, p. 2). Military members and civilian population who identifies as a part of the LGBT community face higher rates of adversity of traumatic exposure and post-traumatic stress disorder compared to the military members and civilians who do not identify as LGBT (Livingston et al., 2019, p. 2). The LGBT veteran population is recognized and represented in all branches of the US military and, thus, shares similar if not more PTSD symptoms upon completion of their service time, including combative exposure, the loss of their comrades during their time served, member on member sexual harassment/assault along with forced separation from their families and friends during development which Livingston et al., (2019, p. 2) describe as being a high-impact stressor for military members, much like their comrades who do not identify as LGBT (Livingston et al., 2019, p. 2). Institutional and interpersonal discrimination represents higher rates among LBGT population within and outside of the military, additionally obstacles that are faced when requesting and receiving treatment and other stressors that would be consider as minor are often exacerbated for LGBT veterans with regards to trauma military related stressors and create additional barriers that delay needed treatment (Livingston et al., 2019, p. 2).
While traumatic events can result is many consequences and impact everyone on a personal level, the impacts that are more noticeable for LGBT veterans are:
1. Fearing the loss of one’s life as a result of openly identifying as LGBT in his article, Livingston et al. (2019, p. 3) describe a recount of a veteran who details the traumatic events of witnessing someone who openly identified as being homosexual and transgender being slain by non-LGBT individuals by being thrown off a 16-story building while tied up. Another veteran recounts his earlier high school days when a gay student whom he considered his friend was physically abused and thrown into a river and left to drown as a result of the victim flirting with another male.
2. Health disparities: people who identify as LGBT have a higher risk of their lives being put in jeopardy as a direct result of discrimination within the medical professional setting due to delays or rejections of critical medical care. An example would be hormone therapy or surgery and other medical procedures needed for patients who identify as transgender (LGBTQ, n.d.)
3. Microaggressions: Individuals who identify themselves as LGBT commonly experience fleeting, subtle expressions of animosity or prejudice based on their identification. The mental and physical results of microaggression based on sexuality alongside other minorities, such as race and ethnicity, may foster exhaustion and psychological problems for those who identify as LGBT (LGBTQ, n.d.)
Resources available for LGBT veterans in Texas:
· LGBTQ+ Veteran care: https://www.va.gov/central-texas-health-care/health-services/lgbtq-veteran-care/#:~:text=VA%20Central%20Texas%20health%20care%20employees%20receive%20training%20in%20clinical,of%20you%20and%20your%20family.
· VHA LGBTQ+ Health Program: https://www.patientcare.va.gov/LGBT/index.asp
Posttraumatic Distress and Treatment Barriers Among Former Gang Members
Conventional research has focused on the criminal behaviors of gang members, fostering the one-dimensional ideology that individuals who are members of gangs are solely violent offenders (Valdez, 2021, p. 1). Through various research, studies have reported that gang members are 20 times more likely to take action in drive-by shootings, 10 times more likely to carry out homicides, four times more likely to attack rival gang members, and three times more likely to attack those they consider friends than attacking their counterparts compared to at-risk juveniles (Huff, 1998). In recent years, research has reported that persons involved in gangs are also part of the vulnerable population (Beresford & Wood, 2016). Through research studies, many cases have found that the primary victims of gang violence are gang members themselves through their rival gangs, which suggests that individuals who are part of a gang are often both the victims and perpetrators of gang violence (Valdez, 2021, p. 1).
The trauma associated with gang members is noticeably significant as many lives perish as a result of gang-on-gang violence which has dominated many impoverish communities and neighborhoods, listed below are some of the impacts associated with former gang members.
1. Psychiatric morbidity: Peers pressure to commit crime during their time in gangs and witnessing violence and altercation of a frequent basis along side being victims of gang-on-gang violence may increase the risk of mental distress and may result in long term consequences based on their lived experiences. In their article Valdez, (2021, p. 2) explains that internalization correlates to exposure to violence in many aspects within victimization and perpetration on gang-on-gang violence.
2. Health disparities: When there is a lack of similarity between lived experiences between mental health professionals and former gang members, there may be a disconnect between mental health professionals and former gang members as the lived experiences may be misunderstood by the mental health professionals or not understood at all (Valdez, 2021, p. 9).
3. Relatability: When form gang members are unable to connect with those around them or in healthcare, this may lead to feelings of interpersonal disconnection (Valdez, 2021, p. 9).
4. Limitation of resources: Financial disparity creates obstacles that may limit or prevent former gang members from receiving adequate care needed to health from mental health issues related to traumatic lived experiences (Valdez, 2021, p. 10).
Resources that may be beneficial for reformed gang members can be found below:
· Probation and Reentry Services:
https://tarrant.tx.networkofcare.org/ps/library/library-category.aspx?cid=255
· Affordable Care Act:
· https://tarrant.tx.networkofcare.org/ps/library/library-category.aspx?cid=518
Reference
Huff, C. R. (1998). Comparing the criminal behavior of youth gangs and at-risk youths. . Research in brief. http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED426175.pdf
Livingston, N. A., Berke, D. S., Ruben, M. A., Matza, A. R., & Shipherd, J. C. (2019). Experiences of trauma, discrimination, microaggressions, and minority stress among trauma-exposed LGBT veterans: Unexpected findings and unresolved service gaps. Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy, 11(7), 695–703.
Valdez, C. (2021). Post-traumatic distress and treatment barriers among former gang members: Implications for improving access to traumatic stress resources in marginalized populations. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 34(2), 309.