
1 minute read
New research sheds light on healthcare challenges faced...
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.”
Advertisement
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 included responses from 344 LGBTQ Asian individuals who spoke different languages. There were also discussions with local LGBTQ API organizations aside from focus groups of specific underserved high-risk groups. The report also includes professional assessments from Apicha CHC staff, physicians, and other healthcare providers. The study not only focused on medical needs but also highlighted the significance of addressing mental health and social needs within the community.
Rodriguez encouraged members of the Filipino American community to utilize Apicha’s services and actively provide feedback to help expand and improve the services already being offered.

“We are part of your family and we want you to come and use the services and tell us as well what you need so that we can figure out how can we expand the services that we are already providing,” Rodriguez said.

Magpantay and Rodriguez also talked about a surprising aspect identified during the survey - the complexity of dermatological issues within the