Wed 17 Sep 2008 In: International News View at Wayback View at NDHA
A new study published by a leading journal of psychiatry suggests that lesbian, gay and bisexual people are twice as likely as straight people to have suffered depression or anxiety disorders. UK researchers looked at 25 past studies on sexual orientation and mental health, and also found an elevated risk of alcohol problems and substance abuse in LGB people, reports the BMC Psychiatry journal. Lead researcher Michael King of London's University Collage stressed that the study's findings shouldn't suggest that homosexuality is itself a mental disorder which gives rise to poorer mental health. Lifelong stress to some gay people caused by overt and subtle discrimination, social exclusion and rejection from families could be aggravating factors leading to higher rates of mental disorders, King concludes. More on this story is on the link below, and a link is provided to more information about depression itself, and the BMC Psychiatry study report.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News Staff
First published: Wednesday, 17th September 2008 - 9:41am