Mental Health and Wellbeing
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Mental Health and Wellbeing
Innate variations of sex characteristics represent a natural diversity in the human population. However, experiences of discrimination, medical interventions without personal informed consent, shame, and stigma can cause distress. As a result, people in the intersex population are thought to experience higher rates of mental illness relative to the general population. Dealing with health issues and misconceptions about intersex variations can also put a strain on relationships in families, with friends, or with romantic partners.
If you notice any significant and lasting changes in your behaviour or mood, it is worth seeking support. In Australia, a GP can provide you with a Mental Health Care Plan to help you access Medicare subsidised psychologist support. Your GP may also be able to provide you with information about local mental health and wellbeing services available in your community.
Having a variation can also challenge our sense of self and assumptions about who we are, and this can feel hurtful or distressing. Managing this complexity may require peer or professional support through InterLink, an intersex peer support organisation, counsellor or psychologist.
Community and other supports
Hall, Mim. 2019. Out of the shadows. YOUth&I Issue 1. https://youthandi.org/out-of-the-shadows/
Lum, Steph. 2019. Carla. YOUth&I Issue 1. https://youthandi.org/carla/
Lum, Steph. 2023. Unspoken – A Collection of Untold Intersex Stories – The Bookshop Darlinghurst
Although innate variations may be physically different to one another, the many struggles faced from the medical community and society more generally, are universally experienced by the intersex community. There are great benefits in connecting with people with similar variations, and also with people with other variations. Seeing, being and interacting with people with similarly diverse bodies will help all individuals with innate variations make informed decisions free from external pressure through families, doctors or societal norms.
Intersex Supports available for individuals and families in Australia
InterLink psychosocial support service – https://ilink.net.au
InterAction for Health and Human Rights (formerly IHRA Intersex Human Rights Australia) – https://interaction.org.au/
IPSA Intersex Peer Support Australia (formerly AISSGA) – https://isupport.org.au/
Health & Human Rights Support Services around Australia
Australian Capital Territory
- ACT Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.act.
gov.au/ - ACT Health Complaints Commissioner: https://hcc.act.gov.au/
New South Wales
- Anti-Discrimination Board of NSW: https://www.antidiscrimination.
nsw.gov.au/ - NSW Health Care Complaints Commission: https://www.hccc.nsw.gov.au/
Northern Territory
- Northern Territory Anti-Discrimination Commission: https://ntadc.nt.gov.au/
- NT Health Complaints Commissioner: https://nt.gov.au/health/health-complaints-commissioner
Queensland
- Queensland Human Rights Commission: https://www.qhrc.qld.gov.au/
- Queensland Health Ombudsman: https://www.healthombudsman.
qld.gov.au/
South Australia
- Equal Opportunity Commission South Australia: https://www.eoc.sa.gov.au/
- SA Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner: https://www.sahealth.sa.gov.au
/health-and-community-services-complaints-commissioner
Tasmania
- Equal Opportunity Tasmania: https://www.equalopportunity.
tas.gov.au/ - Tasmanian Health Complaints Commissioner: https://www.thcc.tas.gov.au/
Victoria
- Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission: https://www.humanrights.vic.
gov.au/ - Victorian Health Complaints Commissioner: https://hcc.vic.gov.au/
Western Australia
- WA Equal Opportunity Commission: https://www.eoc.wa.gov.au/
- WA Health Services Complaints Office: https://www.hsc.wa.gov.au/
Mental Health Support Services around Australia
Mental Health Services
- Lifeline Crisis Support – https://www.lifeline.org.au/ – 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline (Ages 5-25) – https://kidshelpline.com.au/ – 1800 55 1800
- Headspace (Youth mental services) – https://headspace.org.au/
LGBTIQA+ specific resources
- QLife – https://qlife.org.au/ – 1800 184 527 or Webchat
- Switchboard Victoria https://www.switchboard.org.au/
- +61 7 3017 1724
- info@ilink.net.au
- PO Box 1372 Eagle Farm QLD 4009
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InterLink acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to Elders past, present, and emerging. We recognise that soverignty was never ceded and honour the continuation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander connection to land, waters, and culture. We celebrate the rich diversity within our communities, extending our respect to all First Nations peoples.