A committee of the Institute of Medicine (IOM) defines access as 'the extent to which those in need of mental health and substance abuse care receive services that are appropriate to the severity of their illness and the complexity of their needs.' But too often, access only means the availability of services or their delivery and not an effective response to our needs as L, G, B, or T people.

LGBTs were identified as a national health concern by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in the ten-year federal plan for improving the nation's health (Healthy People 2010). That document recognized the evidence of health disparities we experience. To address our needs, we need to understand the disparities that are defined by our sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This module addresses six remaining related areas: Immunization and Infectious Diseases, Mental Health and Mental Disorders, Nutrition and Weight, Sexually Transmitted Diseases (Infections), Tobacco Use and HIV/AIDS.

"The health status of the United States is a description of the health of the total population, using information representative of most people living in this country. The ultimate measure of success in any health improvement effort is the health status of any defined population."

[from Healthy People 2010 Companion Document for LGBT Health]