STD/STI and Mental Health - Awareness

STD/STI and Mental Health - Awareness

Hey everyone! So I decided to do my Honors Project on this topic because I feel quite strongly about the stigmas people must face when having an STD/STI and got to thinking how it might impact their mental health. The fear-mongering, shame and ways of thinking about STDs/STIs should change because it could have harmful effects in teens as well as adults. We are in the year 2019 now and there are still huge problems with the ‘taboo of openly discussing STDs and STIs. This post was made in order to raise awareness and educate people in a non-judgemental, respectful and objective way.

What is an STD/STI?

STDs are sexually transmitted diseases and STI stands for sexually transmitted infections. However, people who become infected with an STI do not always experience any symptoms or have their infection develop into a disease. STDs are more commonly known for the collection of medical infections transmitted more often through sexual contact (though not exclusively) and are among the most common contagious diseases. Some examples of STDs include: HIV, genital warts, genital herpes, chlamydia, gonorrhoea, some forms of hepatitis, trichomoniasis and syphilis.

STIs do not always mean you have an STD, although they both have significant health consequences. For example, some STIs can heighten the risk of getting and transmitting HIV/AIDS and alter the way the disease progresses. There are also long-term health problems associated with STIs, especially in women and infants. Some health complications that result from STIs include infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal or ectopic pregnancy, cervical cancer, and perinatal or congenital infections in infants.

Some videos to check out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uYx26DC0Zs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xviVENE0ukE

Social Stigmas and Bullying

There is a lot of material aimed at young adults and teens to prevent STDs with a focus of safe sex practices and abstinence, sometimes alongside added stereotyping from certain cultures and religious communities who condemn those with an STD/STI as immoral, sinful or sexually promiscuous.

The Issues With Ignoring Sexual Behaviour in Teenagers and Young Adults

There exists a denial in parents who believe their children arent sexually active at such a young age when really thats not the case. The average teenager first engages in sex around 17 years of age in the US. In 2011 to 2013, among unmarried 15 to 19-year olds, 44% of females and 49% of males had engaged in sexual intercourse. These levels have remained steady since 2002. (Martinez GM and Abma JC). In the UK, people less than 25 years of age possess the highest rates of STIs according to the National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (Natsal 2000).

Additionally, people can get an STD/STI through sexual behaviours without having intercourse, proven by a 2008 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) study. If parents believe their children are not at risk of having an STD/STI transmitted to them, then consequently they are unlikely to take them for regular medical screenings, which could have essentially led to receiving treatment.

Teens that are left without the support of their parents have the heavy responsibility of seeking medical help on their own, and even with the access to treatments, going through this process, either proactively or when symptoms appear, requires a certain level of maturity and the ability to manage high stress-levels.

Breaking the Negative Stereotypes

The number of distorted generalisations and widespread stigmas regarding STDs/STIs make open discussion more difficult. One common generalisation is the perception of human sexuality, particularly that STDs/STIs are nothing more than a flaw of human sexuality. This could not be further from the truth, as STDs/STIs are a very normal and common thing. These misconceptions are so extensive that a 2001 study by the CDC found that 89% of females thought they were at little to no risk of contracting and STD/STI.

In Western pop culture, STDs are usually delivered as a punchline to put down characters or used as an insult for shock value in television or films. These negative attitudes towards STDs/STIs make it even harder to inform people in how they can receive support without the added burden of facing prejudice or bullying along the way.

The Facts

The reality is, STDs/STIs are just infections that might be contracted by people regardless of age, race, gender, religion or sexual orientation – think about it, even doctors can get them! Additionally, despite trying ones best to prevent getting an STD/STI, some STIs such as herpes are actually transmitted through skin contact not fluids, so condoms wont prevent certain infections. Thats not to say one should stop practicing safe sex but contracting a STI/STD is in a sense inevitable, even with the added precautions taken to prevent it.

STDs are actually very common. HPV for instance, infects more than 50% of the sexually active population. Most STDs/STIs are asymptomatic, meaning that the only sure way of knowing you have one is to get regular tests done. Due to the amount of overpowering social stigmas surrounding STDs/STIs, receiving a positive diagnosis puts such a fear in people that they would rather not know their current status. They believe that if they dont know they wont face rejection or having to lie about it to others. This causes people to spread infections for years before experiencing any serious consequences themselves. It is also a challenge if someone tries to research STDs or STIs as some online resources are actually outdated or incorrect. The best way to check if you do have an infection is to visit a medical professional such as a doctor.

It is incorrect to label those with an STD/STI as hypersexual or sex addicts because it only takes one sexual partner to contract an STI/STD and sometimes it doesnt even take any. Having either of these reveals almost nothing about your sexual history, except that perhaps safer sex should be practiced in the majority of cases.

Why People Might Actively Shame Those with a STD/STI

Most people who shame others for having an STD/STI probably have some form of an infection themselves and are thus partaking in a projection of sorts to make themselves feel better. However, despite the aims of this projection, this may in fact contribute to self-hatred and depression due to their own diagnosis. Cases of people being bullied for having herpes can be severe enough to the extent where they leave people feeling suicidal.

LGBTQ+

I wanted to include a section for the LGBTQ+ because of the stereotypes this community is associated with, in particular when it comes to HIV/AIDS. Queer youths also possess high rates of mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression. There is also an association to STDs/STIs that has to do with alternative reasons disconnected from the prevalent social stigmas, which is explored in this section.

The Link Between LGBTQ+ and STDs/STIs

Research strongly suggests that LGBTQ+ people are at greater risk of contracting an STD/STI because of emotional and mental health issues. A queer youth struggling with a mental illness and a STI may face ostracism from others, but also come across stigmatisation in their own community, and even stigmatise themselves because of the widespread beliefs.

The Physical Effects of Trauma and Stress and its Connection to Safe Sex

Queer youths are burdened with shame and rejection at home, in school, their communities, and even in healthcare settings. According to recent CDC data, they are also twice as likely to face bullying, physical dating violence, and sexual dating violence in comparison to heterosexual students.

The brain is physically damaged because of the chronic emotional upset which can obstruct decision-making in people, which leaves queer people less likely practice safe sex. Excess cortisol is produced as a result of the stressors stimulating the adrenal glands. The prefrontal cortex plays a key role in safe sex because this happens to be the brains centre for impulse control and self-regulation, which subsequently ends up damaged. Queer youth who have been traumatised by past sexual violence are more likely to engage in high-risk sexual practices, as opposed to those who have not experienced trauma.

Why is Support Crucial for LGBTQ+ People?

Self-loathing is common with LGBTQ+ people, especially if they struggle with anxiety and depression. This often leads to engaging in high-risk sexual behaviour as a way of gratification. The stress levels are mostly dependent on the amount of support they receive from their family, friends, peers, teachers and the community as a whole.

The chances of encountering a stressful social environment is extremely likely for a queer youth, especially when it comes to opening up about gender identity and sexual activities with others, even if they are a talking to a healthcare professional.

Safety is a big issue as well, owing to the fact that one can never predict how the other person will react upon being told openly of their sexual orientation or gender identity. The fear of judgement and a lack of validation makes it a challenge to be open about discussing STDs/STIs, especially with the added social stigmas associated with the LGBTQ+ community.

In contrast, queer folk who are fully accepted and supported by those in their social circles and schools, and have not been exposed to ostracism, rejection, bullying, physical violence, end up with lower rates of STDs/STIs than queer youth who have experienced such negatives in their life.

Final Thoughts

I think that by recognising STDs/STIs as common, we can begin to support and help people truly. Its not about accepting STD/STI with the purpose of spreading it; people should absolutely practice safe sex and take care of themselves. However, there are so many other factors to consider and generalisations should be eliminated when discussing such a broad topic, as it wouldnt be fair to the people who have struggled with an STD/STI or are currently struggling with any. This can also be challenging with certain religious or cultural beliefs that might clash when talking about STDs/STIs, and there is no doubt that you will come across people who arent as open-minded as others, but thats somewhat expected.

Questions

1) Have you ever personally been diagnosed with an STI/STD or know anyone who has?

2) Have you ever faced a negative reaction upon openly sharing your STI/STD status or know anyone who has gotten this treatment?

3) How can society help overcome these stigmas and be more open-minded towards talking about this topic?

Thank you for taking the time to read my project, I appreciate it! I also know that Ive barely scratched the surface as theres so much more to cover, it was also hard to research some of the sub-topics because of the limited information available, but I tried my best with the research I was able to come across.

Support for STD/STI

https://www.plushcare.com/blog/top-10-bloggers-fighting-std-stigma/

https://www.healthline.com/health/sexually-transmitted-diseases/best-blogs-of-the-year#3

https://www.ncsddc.org/resources/

https://www.thestdproject.com/std-forums-forums-about-specific-stds/

https://www.thestdproject.com/std-support-groups/

https://www.ashasexualhealth.org/get-involved/online-support-community/

https://www.findingdulcinea.com/guides/Health/STDs.pg_04.html

https://www.fpa.org.uk/factsheets/teenagers-sexual-health-behaviour

References & Further Info:

•https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-new-teen-age/201007/stds-are-normal

•https://beforeplay.org/the-difference-between-stds-and-stis/

•https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11354267

•https://www.everydayhealth.com/stds/stigma-stds-mental-health-lgbtq-youth-whats-connection/

•https://medlineplus.gov/sexuallytransmitteddiseases.html#cat_78

•https://beforeplay.org/the-difference-between-stds-and-stis/

•https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15617367

•https://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/stds/conditioninfo/treatments

•https://www.verywellhealth.com/the-stigma-stds-have-in-society-3133101

•https://www.elitedaily.com/wellness/std-googling-symptoms/1634701

•https://www.webmd.com/sex-relationships/understanding-stds-basics

•https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db209.htm

•https://www.fpa.org.uk/factsheets/teenagers-sexual-health-behaviour

https://www.niaid.nih.gov/diseases-conditions/sexually-transmitted-diseases

•https://hivinsite.ucsf.edu/InSite?page=kb-07-04-03

•https://cbsnews.com/news/lgb-teens-more-likely-to-experience-dating-violence