A Determinants-Based Approach to Addressing the Mental Health of Gbtq Men in Social Work Practice

Background and Purpose Social work practice with GBTQ men often focuses on individual mental health symptoms without accounting for the broader structural determinants influencing psychological distress. These determinants include internalized shame, disenfranchised grief, body-conscious culture, milestone heteronormativity, and substance use. The dominant approaches in social work tend to prioritize deficit-based models, overlooking resilience and affirming interventions tailored to queer lived experiences. This workshop introduces a determinants-based framework that acknowledges systemic oppression while integrating interventions grounded in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), Gestalt role-play, and psychodynamic inquiry to better serve GBTQ men.

Methods The session draws from qualitative research, clinical case studies, and existing literature to outline fifteen key determinants affecting GBTQ men’s mental health. Participants will engage in:

1. Case study analysis of intersectional challenges such as racialized experiences, migration stress, and community belonging. 2. Role-playing exercises to practice therapeutic interventions for addressing internalized shame and sexual health concerns. 3. Breakout group discussions on how social workers can shift their clinical perspectives toward affirming, resilience-based approaches. The interactive format ensures that attendees leave with practical skills applicable to direct practice, supervision, and policy advocacy.

Results Findings from qualitative case analysis suggest that integrating affirmative, determinants-based approaches in social work practice leads to better mental health outcomes for GBTQ men. Specifically, participants exposed to this framework in clinical settings report improved self-acceptance, stronger coping strategies, and increased resilience in navigating stigma and rejection. The session will present real-world applications of these findings through case vignettes and intervention strategies.

Conclusions and Implications By adopting a determinants-based framework, social workers can move beyond pathologizing models and instead cultivate therapeutic spaces that affirm GBTQ identities while addressing systemic barriers. The session offers concrete strategies for social workers to:

- Implement culturally competent interventions that center resilience rather than deficit-based narratives.

- Recognize how social determinants (e.g., racism, homophobia, HIV stigma, body image pressures) manifest in therapy.

- Develop affirming therapeutic relationships that account for intersectionality in queer mental health.

This workshop will be valuable for practitioners working in mental health, LGBTQ+ services, substance use treatment, and policy advocacy, ensuring that social work practice is both anti-oppressive and affirming.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

1. Identify at least five social determinants affecting the mental health of GBTQ men.

2. Apply psychodynamic, Gestalt, and CBT-based interventions to address internalized shame, milestone heteronormativity, and disenfranchised grief.

3. Develop culturally competent strategies for engaging GBTQ men in affirming, resilience-based mental health practices.