Depression Rates are Alarming among Gays and Lesbians
By editor | July 9, 2007
The results of several breakthrough studies are offering new insights on gay men, and lesbians among the key findings:
- Several studies suggest that gay men and lesbians appear to have higher rates of some mental disorders compared with heterosexuals, although not to the level of a serious pathology. Discrimination may help fuel these higher rates.
- A study found lesbians reported equally strong levels of mental health as their heterosexual sisters and higher self-esteem.
Population-based studies:
- Several large population-based public health studies are discussed in the November American Psychologist (Vol. 56, No. 11) by Susan Cochran, PhD, an epidemiologist in the University of California, Los Angeles School of Public Health, who authored or co-authored many of the studies. Specifically, the studies find:
- Higher rates of major depression, generalized anxiety disorder and substance use or dependence in lesbian and gay youth.
- Higher rates of recurrent major depression among gay men.
- Higher rates of anxiety, mood and substance use disorders, and suicidal thoughts among people ages 15 to 54 with same-sex partners.
- Higher use of mental health services in men and women reporting same-sex partners.
Depression Leads to Suicide among Gay and Lesbians:
“When you ask in-depth questions about suicide attempts, the responses you get account for the rate differences between heterosexual and sexual minority youth suicide,” Savin-Williams says. “The heterosexual youth had hardly any false attempts, while those with same-sex attractions had a lot of them.”
The findings suggest that gay youth are vulnerable to the media’s and researchers’ well-meaning but negative depictions of gay youth as highly troubled people heading on a collision course with life, Savin-Williams maintains.
On an even more positive note, two large-scale studies of lesbians and bisexual women report good news about lesbians’ mental health, particularly if the women are “out.”
In the other study, Savin-Williams compared reported suicide attempts in 126 young sexual-minority young people and 140 young heterosexual men and women. Again, while sexual-minority men and women were far more likely to report suicide attempts than heterosexual subjects, the two groups showed similar rates of true suicide attempts.
All happened just due to the depression among the gays and lesbians which is increasing day by day.
Tags: Depression Tips generalized anxiety disorder lesbian and gay youth major depression mental health suicide attempts
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