Roundtable: Incarceration and Mental Health of LGBTQ Populations

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract/Description

The unique needs of LGBTQ populations are often neglected in correctional settings. There is a critical need to develop and implement adequate programs for incarcerated LGBTQ individuals. Mental health needs, in particular, are often unmet in jails and prisons where facilities lack specialized staff for therapy or other supports and conditions exacerbate mental distress. While there have been programs specifically designed for these populations, implementation is challenging due to stigma and discrimination rooted in homophobia and transphobia. We discuss ideas for creating and fostering a safe community for these populations. We invite participants to join us in discussing what creating such spaces can look like in practice.

Sub Unit

• Area XIV. Roundtables

Chair

• Bryant Jackson-Green, University of California, Irvine

Discussants

• Yu-Heng Chen, Temple University

• Susana Avalos, Old Dominion University