Sexual health services in urban, suburban, and rural outpatient mental healthcare settings in New York: findings from a survey of practices and gaps

McKinnon, Karen; Jaafar, Fatima; Alves-Bradford, Jean-Marie; Weinstein, Taylor; Zurita McKinnon, Alma; Hughes, Elizabeth; Boccher-Lattimore, Daria; Cournos, Francine

Abstract

We surveyed all licensed outpatient mental health programs in New York to examine sexual health services and training needs of providers. Gaps were found in processes for assessing whether patients were sexually active, engaging in sexual risk behaviours, and in need of HIV testing and pre-exposure prophylaxis. Significant differences between urban, suburban, and rural settings statewide were found in how the following sexual health services were delivered: education; on-site sexually transmitted infection screenings; and condom distribution and barriers to distribution. Staff training in sexual health services delivery is critically needed for optimal sexual health and recovery of patients in community mental healthcare.

Citation

McKinnon, K., Jaafar, F., Alves-Bradford, J., Weinstein, T., Zurita McKinnon, A., Hughes, E., …Cournos, F. (2023). Sexual health services in urban, suburban, and rural outpatient mental healthcare settings in New York: findings from a survey of practices and gaps. Sexual Health, https://doi.org/10.1071/sh22199

• Journal Article Type: Editorial
• Acceptance Date: Apr 19, 2023
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: May 26, 2023
• Journal: Sexual Health
• Print ISSN: 1448-5028
• Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/sh22199
• Keywords: capacity building, condoms, education, health promotion, health services, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric, screening