Gay people twice as likely to attempt suicide
September 17th, 2008
Lesbian, gay and bisexual people are at a higher risk of suicide, depression, subtance abuse and deliberate self harm than heterosexual people, according to a new study published by BMC Psychiatry.
25 separate pieces of research were examined by a team of researchers from University College London, using data from over 210,000 heterosexual people and almost 12,000 non-heterosexual people.
The data reveals that LGB people are twice as likely to attempt suicide, 1.5 times more likely to suffer from depression and anxiety disorders, and 1.5 times more likely to be dependent on alcohol and other substances.
The report states “LGB people are subject to institutionalised prejudice, social stress, social exclusion (even within families) and anti-homosexual hatred and violence and often internalise a sense of shame about their sexuality.”
A survey of 6,000 lesbian and bisexual women undertaken by Stonewall in June 2008 revealed that lesbians are 50 times more likely to self-harm than straight women.
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