Sexual health programs receive federal funding boost

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The federal government is making access to sexual health and reproductive services in Canada more inclusive to combat persistent barriers for youth, it announced Wednesday.

The initiative, announced by federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos, includes funding to address barriers to people with disabilities, Indigenous people and people who identify as LGBTQ2+. A total investment of $2.8 million from the Sexual Health and Reproductive Fund will be split between two organizations, with $805,916 going to the Sex Information and Education Council of Canada to provide tools to health-care providers for autistic and disabled youth.

A key goal of the Sex Information and Education Council is to increase the knowledge of educators and institutions to deliver comprehensive sexual health education and care to all Canadians, said project co-ordinator Yi Wen Shao. However, not everyone has open access to education or reliable resources, specifically youth on the autism spectrum and those with disabilities.

Even when they are given information, it may not be in a form that is accessible or relatable to them.

Stigma and stereotypes about these communities underpins the lack of supports for these communities, Shao said.

“This lack of education already puts this population at increased risk of poor outcomes, including increased risk of abuse, low self-esteem, being taken advantage of and possible health problems,” Shao said. “It also strips them of their fundamental right to self-expression and fulfilment.”

In addition, teachers may have limited education in this area themselves, as well as little training in how to approach these subjects. The council will spend the next two years working with people with lived experience to develop sexual health resources for service providers to promote sexual health among these populations.

The bulk of the funds, just over $2 million, will go to the Calgary-based Centre for Sexuality to support its in-person Relationship and Sexual Health Education program. This will contribute to an online component as well as content related to the particular needs of LGBTQ2+ youth, First Nations communities, and persons with developmental disabilities, said Pam Krause, president and CEO of the Centre for Sexuality.

This project will also support the development of training resources for health-care providers to help them better meet the needs of these populations.

“We really appreciate the funding to deepen our impact, strengthen our relationship with communities, improve access to vital services and continue to fill our vision for sexual well-being for all,” Krause said.

While this funding doesn’t target Manitoba specifically, the Sexual Education Resource Centre welcomed the investment.

Investing in sexuality and reproductive health services and increasing accessibility results in better health outcomes for Westman’s communities, a SERC spokesperson said in an email.

“We are excited to hear more about the details of the announcement and how this funding will impact the work we do and the communities we serve,” the statement read.

Duclos said these communities have been largely overlooked in terms of sexual health, particularly youth.

One of the few accessible information tools they have is online, and there is a lot of misinformation and hate speech on platforms, further driving young people away from help they are seeking.

“Everybody has the right to access the care they need to lead a happy, healthy, and dignified life,” said Duclos. “Unfortunately, that is not always the case, especially for young people. There has been progress, but there have been many barriers that continue to exist that block the full suite of sexual and reproductive care services that they need.”

It’s crucial the federal government works with organizations like Sex Information and Education Council and the Centre for Sexuality to remove barriers and combat misinformation, shame and stigma that Canadians are still facing, the minister said.

The Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund was created to support a wide range of for segments of the population who are at greater risk for poorer sexual and reproductive health outcomes, including members of LGBTQ2+ communities, Indigenous and racialized people, women and youth, stated a news release.

Budget 2021-22 set aside $45 million over three years to improve access to sexual and reproductive health-care support, information, and services for people in Canada who face the greatest barriers to access.

Of this $45-million investment, $24.9 million has been allocated to date to nine projects, valued at $15.2 million, which are underway. Of these nine projects, two address access to abortion, five address LGBTQ2+ communities and two address youth. Two of those projects include components focusing on Indigenous Peoples.

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