Higher Risk of Mental Health Problems for Homosexuals
Homosexual people tend to experience more mental health problems than heterosexual people, research indicates. Discrimination may contribute to the higher risk, believes lead researcher Dr. Apu Chakraborty of University College London, UK.
His team looked at rates of mental disorder among 7,403 adults living in the UK, whose details were obtained from the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2007. Rates of depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, phobia, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol and drug dependence were significantly higher in homosexual respondents.
Four percent had a depressive episode in the last week, compared to two percent of heterosexual people. The rate of alcohol dependence was ten percent versus five percent, and for self-harming it was nine percent versus five percent.
The proportion of homosexual people who described themselves as being fairly or very happy was 30 percent, versus 40 percent for heterosexual people.
Dr. Chakraborty believes the findings are very worrying. He said, This study is the first time the mental health and well-being of gay, lesbian and bisexual people has been examined in a random sample of the population.
Our study confirms earlier work carried out in the UK, USA and Holland which suggests that non-heterosexual people are at higher risk of mental disorder, suicidal ideation, substance misuse and self-harm than heterosexual people.
He stated that, although the level of discrimination was low, it was still significantly higher than against heterosexual people. This lends support to the idea that people who feel discriminated against experience social stressors, which in turn increases their risk of experiencing mental health problems, he says.
These higher levels of psychiatric problems in homosexual people call for greater efforts at preventing the issues arising, Dr. Chakraborty adds.
In the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, participants chosen to be representative of the UK population gave information on neurotic symptoms, common mental disorders, probable psychosis, suicidal thoughts, and alcohol and drug use, as well as aspects of sexual identity and perceived discrimination.
The study is published in the British Journal of Psychiatry . Dr. Chakraborty and his team write, Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation predicted certain neurotic disorder outcomes, even after adjustment for potentially confounding variables.
Commenting on the study on the journals website, psychiatrist Dr. Mohinder Kapoor of the South West Yorkshire Foundation NHS Trust, UK, highlights the limited evidence in this area. He says credit should be given to the authors in conducting this study.
But he pointed out that a cross-sectional study like this can only raise the question of an association, rather than test a hypothesis. The authors appear over-ambitious, he writes, because one cannot test whether psychiatric problems are associated with discrimination on grounds of sexuality.
To study the true impact of sexuality-based discrimination on mental health problems, a longer-term approach is needed, he states.
Whether or not discrimination is the cause, mental health problems have previously been found to be higher among homosexual people. In 2008, Professor Michael King and his team at University College London, UK, carried out a review of 28 papers on the subject. All were published between 1966 and 2005, and included a total of 214,344 heterosexual and 11,971 homosexual people.
Their analysis revealed twice the rate of suicide attempts among lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The risks of depression and anxiety disorders were at least one and a half times higher, as was alcohol and other substance abuse.
Most of the results were similar in both sexes, but women were particularly at risk of alcohol and drug dependence and men at a higher risk of suicide attempts.
The researchers say, There are a number of reasons why gay people may be more likely to report psychological difficulties, which include difficulties growing up in a world orientated to heterosexual norms and values and the negative influence of social stigma against homosexuality.
In addition, the gay commercial world in which some men and women may participate to find partners and friends may make misuse of alcohol and cigarettes more likely. The former in particular can have adverse effects on mental well-being.
Finally, our results add to evidence that sexual experiences in childhood in men classified as gay or bisexual may play a role in adult psychological adjustment, they conclude.
References
Chakraborty, A. et al. Mental health of the non-heterosexual population of England. British Journal of Psychiatry , Vol. 198, February 2011, pp. 143-48.
King, M. et al. A systematic review of mental disorder, suicide, and deliberate self-harm in lesbian, gay and bisexual people. BMC Psychiatry , Vol. 18, August 2008, 8:70.
King, M. and Nazareth, I. The health of people classified as lesbian, gay and bisexual attending family practitioners in London: a controlled study. BMC Public Health , Vol. 6, May 2006, 6:127.
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If the guy who killed the TV reporters was not gay is there a possibility he would not have had the mental problems he experienced. We will never know but it appears it could have been a contributing factor.
His anger issues and peculiar behavior went way beyond sexuality.
Yes, and we know he was suicidal and the study indicates gay people are at higher risk of suicide.
I read the article but I still think the correlation is weak.
Homosexual people tend to experience more mental health problems than heterosexual people
Homosexual people tend to experience more personal hate then heterosexual people.
The study doesn't look like its methodology makes its results very definitive.
That said, I have no trouble believing that those whom society shun, discriminate against, and whose nature they reject very well may suffer mental and other hygiene health related issues as a result.
I do like the conclusion of the lead researcher that this points out the need to prevent discrimination against this group, to ward off the emotional challenges which come with their having second class citizen status.
This is purely anecdotal. As a Chaplain and Pastor, I daily work with those whom society corner, and who slip throughcracks in the social fabric. What I see and hear isn't pretty. Lots of pain and suffering. Much of it unnecessary.
The methodology of this studyleaves much to be desired. Even so, if this and future studies confirm what we think is true, it does argue for any and all steps to be taken not to marginalize anyone among us simply because they are different. What makes them different makes them unique.
Let's celebrate diversity anddo a better job of loving each other as neighbors. That way, everyone wins.
Peace and Abundant Blessings to One and All.
Enoch.
Dear Friend Enoch,
As usual you have stated it much better then I could. The level of hatred from society seems to be lessening in more modern countries, but there are still rural areas even here in America when it can still extend to beatings and even murder, simply because they are gay. However I think the most mentally painful act is when they feel the rejection of their own families, especially parents. Far, far too many parents reject them and throw them out and disown them over who they are, when it was not even a choice they made.
Not to pat myself on the back, but I have always gone out of my way to show how proud I am of my gay son and his late mother (my first wife) did the same. When he came out to me I already sensed that he was gay and I had accepted it long before he said the words. After all, he is my son, how could I not continue to love him? How could that ever go away? To me that would be incomprehensible. Then when he told me he and his partner were going to get married I was also very happy! The man he married is a very good and decent man (even if he is a Miami Dolphins fan
) and I am proud to have him as my son-in-law and as a member of the family. My son chose his spouse right, but it really doesn't surprise me.
However, sadly, we tend to be more the exception then the rule. Many fathers and mothers turn their backs on their gay children, male and female and treat them terribly or, in some cases worse, act as if they no longer exist. Add to that the condemnation of many bigots in society in general and in too many churches, it is not surprising that this group of people would be subject to much more pressure, be the victims of the hatred of bigots and develop some forms of mental illnesses, even to the point of suicide, because of it.
Thanks again for your words.
Dear Freind Randy: You and your first (sorry for your loss) wife are role models for us all.
Would that all parents would love their children unconditionally. That is what parents are supposed to do.
Also terrible are people whose religious institutions and organizations reject them for being themselves. No one can credibly claim to represent a religion of love, and hate anyone because they are different.
In Scripture in original language there is no basis for hatred, persecution, discrimination, rejection, marginalizing, bigotry, and any other malodorous conduct unbecoming to members of the LGBT community. Here is why.
The words for sin (Chet) and abomination (Toeyvah) are never used interchangeably. They do not mean the same thing. They do not refer to the same activities.
Abomination is not to the Biblical mind the pejorative it is to modern times. All toeyvah means is that something isn't what you would expect. It is not the statistical norm. That is never sin. It has noting to do with salvation in the slightest. Gay men, lesbian women and other alternative lifestyles are not what most associate with intimate activities and relationships. That isn't a reason to treat them as less than the rest of us.
Sin separates one from G-d. Murder is an example of sin. It drives one away from G-d. That is the opposite of salvation. Those who ill treat people who are non-conventional in such matters are not loving their neighbors as themselves. They are not being the keepers of their brothers and sisters, all in the human family. We are all children of the same G-d. We best serve G-d by serving those in need, whoever they are.
The sin isn't being non-straight. The sin is hurting those are are not heterosexual simply because they are for the most part born that way. You cannot love G-d if you hate any aspect of His creation. These folks are the way they are because G-d created them that way. The two words, "consenting" and "adults" loom large in this discussion.
To a Brighter, More Tolerant Tomorrow with Peace and Abundant Blessings for One and All.
Enoch.