2016/05/05 by Jenna MacKay, Margaret Robinson, Sarah E. Pinder +2 · 1 citation
Medicine · Psychology · Social Sciences · #HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions #Intergenerational Family Dynamics and Caregiving #LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
paper · doi:10.1037/ort0000184
openalex publication_date 2016/05/05 · crossref created 2016/05/05 · crossref issued 2017/01/01 · crossref published 2017/01/01 · crossref published-online 2017/01/01 · crossref deposited 2024/02/05 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · crossref indexed 2026/07/29 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/01
Bisexual people constitute the largest sexual minority group in North America and experience significant mental health disparities in relation to heterosexuals, gays, and lesbians. In this article, we will examine the process and experience of help seeking among bisexuals. This was a community-based study that collected qualitative interview data from 41 diverse bisexual people from across Ontario, Canada. We analyzed the interview data using grounded theory and constructed an understanding of bisexuals' experiences of help seeking. We have conceptualized an overarching model that illustrates 4 interrelated stages: (a) the consideration of services, (b) the process of finding services, (c) barriers and facilitators to accessing services, and (d) experience of service utilization. This model is nonlinear, in that participants do not necessarily move through stages in sequence. Although many stages are experienced at the individual level, they are simultaneously informed by multiple factors at interpersonal and system levels. Our findings suggest a need for interventions at the policy, service and provider levels to improve accessibility of culturally competent services for this population. Understanding the mental health experiences of bisexual people will allow mental health professionals to build competencies working with this population and thereby contribute to a reduction in mental health disparities. (PsycINFO Database Record