CBRC Funded for Chronic Health Surveillance Project Among LGBTQ2+ People in Canada
Public Health Agency of Canada Announces $1M in Funding for Community-Based Surveillance of Chronic Diseases Among Sexual and Gender Minorities
VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Thursday, September 24, 2020) – Sexual and gender minorities may be more likely to develop chronic health issues such as cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes due to health and social inequities. Very little data are available in government surveys and administrative health records in Canada to evaluate and address disparities in chronic health experienced by lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, Two-Spirit, and other sexual and gender minority people (LGBTQ2+) people.
Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) therefore welcomes today’s announcement of $1 million in funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) to undertake an enhanced surveillance project on chronic health among LGBTQ2+ people in Canada. The project will establish a national network of LGBTQ2+ stakeholders and evaluate different data sources for monitoring chronic health issues among LGBTQ2+ people. This includes development of an online survey of 10,000 LGBTQ2+ people and an in-person survey of 4,000 LGBTQ2+ people in 15+ communities across Canada. The project is led by Dr. Nathan Lachowsky, CBRC Research Director and Associate Professor at the University of Victoria’s School of Public Health and Social Policy, and includes two national LGBTQ2+ community partners, Egale and The Enchanté Network.
“This funding represents an important investment in the long-term health and wellbeing of LGBTQ2+ people in Canada,” said Dr. Lachowsky. “It recognizes the importance of a more holistic approach to addressing health inequities among our communities, and the need for this work to engage with and be led by LGBTQ2+ people themselves.”
By adopting participatory epidemiology and community-based approaches for chronic disease surveillance, this project will generate novel data and recommendations for government, academic, and community organizations across Canada. In particular, the project will address critical gaps in evidence on the drivers and outcomes of chronic health issues among sexual and gender minorities, and contribute new knowledge on conducting effective research with LGBTQ2+ communities across Canada. This will inform a more sustainable and impactful surveillance and public health response to evaluate progress on addressing persistent health inequities among sexual and gender minorities.
“CBRC has been at the forefront of global research on health determinants and outcomes in the LGBTQ2+ community and other vulnerable groups across Canada,” said Dr. Hedy Fry, MP for Vancouver Centre. “This investment by the Public Health Agency of Canada will allow CBRC to provide critical data and insights into the health needs and experiences of LGBTQ2+ Canadians. I’m proud that it is headquartered in Vancouver Centre.”
About CBRC:
Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) promotes the health of sexual and gender minorities through research and intervention development. CBRC’s core pillars – community-led research, knowledge exchange, network building, and leadership development – position the organization as a thought leader, transforming ideas into actions that make a difference in our communities.
About PHAC:
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is providing $1 million to support this initiative. The project aligns with PHAC’s objective of investing in initiatives that conduct health surveillance into chronic diseases and conditions, injuries, problematic substance use, and their risk factors.
For more information, or for media requests, please contact:
Michael Kwag
Director, Knowledge Exchange and Policy Development
michael.kwag [at] cbrc [dot] net
