UK's Transform Health Clinic Hosts 'Sound Off'
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Nov. 6, 2019) — A developing issue within the health care realm is understanding what it means to be transgender inclusive. UK HealthCare’s Transform Health Clinic is hosting an event to discuss what it means to be transgender inclusive with health care providers and members of the Lexington community. The dialogue at the Sound Off workshop will specifically address mental health and substance use treatment for transgender people.
Transgender people have historically been excluded from or mistreated within health care settings, resulting in higher rates of many conditions, including depression, anxiety and substance use disorder (SUD). When they don’t feel welcomed and affirmed by providers in a mental health or substance treatment facility, the problem they’re facing can become worse.
Family and Community Medicine provider Dr. Keisa Fallin-Bennett is excited to see results after the workshop.
“We hope that providers will come away with specific tools and action steps to improve their inclusive practices,” said Fallin-Bennett.
The event will feature a panel discussion of mental health providers and clients. There will also be time dedicated to working on inclusive care plans or guidelines, and networking.
“We hope to help everyone understand the risks of lack of access to quality mental health and SUD care and to help providers and community advocates connect,” said Fallin-Bennett. “Our goal with this event is to make inclusive care easier for providers and better suited to our community.”
The event is Thursday Nov. 7 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Voices of Hope Lexington, 450 Old Vine St. Suite 101. Appetizers will be served.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.