September 1, 2020

World Sexual Health Day, which spreads awareness about sexual health, is observed on 4 September every year. Sexual health covers all aspects of sex, including sexually transmitted diseases, sex education, sexual behaviour, and sexual attitudes.

In ‘Singapore social work practice with lesbian, gay, and bisexual clients’ (International Social Work, 2018), Dr Peace Yuh Ju Wong (NUS Department of Social Work) and her co-authors investigate social workers’ perceptions of their practice with lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) clients in Singapore. The research team conducted a survey and focus group discussion involving 89 and 7 Registered Social Workers, respectively. They found that many cited inadequacies in professional resources, knowledge, skills, and training with regards to helping LGB clients. Even more seasoned social workers lacked sufficient training and some were not emotionally prepared to work with LGB clients.

Of particular concern was the tension between social workers’ personal and professional values; some personally opposed same-sex attraction in part due to their religious affiliations – 41% of survey respondents thought that LGB people are “abnormal”, “not the best option”, “can change”, or “unacceptable”.

The research team emphasises the importance of LGB-specific training to provide competent support to LGB clients who seek help. Indeed, social workers who were exposed to formal LGB-specific training reported statistically higher scores on knowledge, skills, and awareness of resources. Furthermore, to address the dilemmas between religious beliefs and non-discriminatory approaches with LGB clients, the team suggests that the Singapore social work profession review its practice supervision, ethical code, and education curriculum.

Read the article here.