New research sheds light on healthcare...

hindering access to quality care.

At the press conference, Apicha CEO Therese R. Rodriguez emphasized the importance of mental health and the involvement of parents in the healing process for LGBTQ individuals.

“This study contributes to the larger body of literature and studies that assess the health and wellness of LGBTQ AAPI communities and it adds a more precise intersectional analysis,” Rodriguez said. “It also builds off of and addresses needs that might have been missing in the New York City Department of Health Mental Hygiene acclaimed 2021 report.”

Glenn Magpantay, a civil rights attorney and principal investigator of the study, said that the survey results indicated a need for more education and awareness among participants, as some expressed a desire for additional STI testing, even though free testing is already available through organizations like Apicha. Other needs identified in the survey included family planning, contraception, pregnancy testing, and addressing mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety, attention deficit disorder, and addiction treatment.

These study findings provide essential insights that will guide Apicha and other organizations in better understanding and meeting the unique healthcare needs of LGBTQ API individuals in New York City.

Key recommendations

The report’s key recommendations to address the most prevalent health and wellness needs of New York City’s LGBTQ API community are the expansion of mental health services and psychiatry, more publicity about free testing for STDs/ HIV/AIDS, health education on sexual health and hygiene, dermatology, and culturallycompetent, bilingual, LGBTQsensitive, and nonjudgmental healthcare providers.

The study involved surveys taken between June and October 2022 and PAGE 4