A study led by Charlotte Spurway, Louise Jackson, Jonathan DC Ross, Michael Larkin was accepted for presentation at the 6th Joint Conference of BHIVA with BASHH-BHIVA in Liverpool on April 27, 2026.
According to research people with mental health conditions face poorer sexual health outcomes and additional
barriers to accessing healthcare including reproductive health (SRH) care which is key to preventing STIs and unintended pregnancy. It is, however unclear, how mental health specifically affects access to SRH.
The first part of the study conducted by Charlotte Spurway and colleagues was a literature review of the current state of access by people with mental health to sexual health clinics in the United States, Canada, and Spain.
The search revealed that across these countries people with mental health conditions face intersecting barriers to SRH care access. The authors concluded that:
- Low-barrier, trauma-informed services improve engagement.
- Stronger links between sexual health and mental health services are needed.
- Sharing referral pathways across sexual health, primary care and community mental health services.
The authors’ recommendation:
- Sharing referral pathways across sexual health, primary care and community mental health services
- Targetted training; easing access to sexual health facilities and making them youth-friendly and confidential
- Strengthening links with community organisations for outreach.
- Targetted training.
- Easing access to sexual health facilities and making them youth-friendly and confidential.
- More research is needed to understand how different mental health conditions specifically affect use of SRH care.
The study (STIRF-52) was funded by STIRF with the help of Jo-Li Trust