20/10/2020
***IMPORTANT POST***
Hello Everyone,
This is Teisha on behalf of Jessica and I we want to make sure we speak on this disgusting decision that happened in Texas. The passing of this is honestly just the start for other states to do the same and to think this even passed according the this article unanimously is just gross. In this article they state that more than 100 counties in Texas communities especially in rural areas there is already a shortage of social workers and other mental health professionals. It is already hard enough in general to find help, and now for these HUMAN BEINGS its going to be even harder?? So as a social worker who wants to deny the LGBTQ+ community because you just don’t “like it” or your “religion” you would rather they feel discriminated, hurt, defeated, and possibly push to su***de than to help them? According to NASW (National Association of Social Workers) in the CODE OF ETHICS 4.02 Discrimination=
Social workers should NOT practice, condone, facilitate, or collaborate with any form of discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, color, s*x, s*xual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, marital status, political belief, religion, immigration status, or mental or physical ability. If you choose to be a social worker, therapist, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner ect. The second you started practicing, is the second you took an oath to HELP ALL PEOPLE. Think about that.
Let’s drop some facts for you all. According to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness the LGBTQ+ community is 2x likely to experience a mental illness than someone who is straight. Transgender community is 4x as likely than CIS Gender people to experience a mental illness. This community already deals with discriminations, prejudice, denial of civil and human rights, harassment, family rejection which leads to worsening symptoms. LGBTQ+ have higher rates of su***de attempts with 40% of Transgender community attempt su***de in their lifetime. Mental Health Association states that 3.9 million LGBTQ+ people have mental illness. Every single one of these people plus more who don’t identify their mental health issues deserve the same treatment as anyone else. The Trevor Project which is a great organization that is the national organization the provides services to the LGBTQ+ community of individuals under 25 and I will provide the link to this very informational statistical report on Mental Illness, but it states as of 2019 18% of 34,000 LGBTQ+ youth which is (6,120 youths) have attempted su***de in the past 12 months. TWELVE MONTHS. (https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/The-Trevor-Project-National-Survey-Results-2019.pdf)
We fully support this community 100% and every single human on this planet deserve to find mental health services that is free of discrimination and judgement. In the comments there will be links to different organizations you can go to for help. It takes a simple google search people. Educate yourselves please and take notice to this growing problem. Thank you for taking the time to read this. Again, this podcast will always be a safe place for anyone that needs it.
https://www.texastribune.org/2020/10/14/texas-social-workers-rule-discrimination-lgbt-disabilities/
A professional organization of social workers called the change "incredibly disheartening," while Gov. Greg Abbott's office said it was necessary to conform with existing state law.