The Effects Of Psychological Distress On The LGBT Community

The mental health of individuals in the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered) community is something that is a serious problem. For most of the history of the United States and many different parts of the world LGBT people faced much persecution and in some cases even death. This constant fear of discovery and the pressure that one feels on oneself when “in the closet” can lead to major mental distress. Research has shown that people who identify as LGBT are twice as likely to develop lifetime mood and anxiety disorders (Bostwick 468). This is extremely noticeable the past couple years in the suicides of bullied teens on the basis of sexual identity and expression. The stigma on simply being perceived as LGBT is strong enough to

LGBTQ adolescents, also called sexual minority youth, have a higher risk of developing mental and emotional problems than heterosexual youth, and also face more bullying, harassment, and victimization due to homophobia (Craig, Austin, & McInroy, 2014). In order to address their needs, the researchers used group therapy that was based on

The young people of the LGBT community do in fact have increased risks when it comes to their mental health. For example: Compared to homeless youth that identify as heterosexual, LGBT adolescents are more likely to have major depressive episodes (41.3% vs. 28.5%), suicidal thoughts (73% vs. 53.2%), at least one suicide attempt (57.1% vs. 33.7%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (47.6% vs. 33.4%) (Keuroghlian, A. S., Shtasel, D., & Bassuk, E. L., 2014). It is also shown that homeless youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender, ranging from 13 to 21 years of age are more apt than youth who identify as heterosexual to experience and report symptoms of depression and use street drugs such as, methamphetamines, cocaine and or crack (Keuroghlian, A. S., Shtasel, D., & Bassuk, E. L., 2014).

Classrooms, consisting of 9th-through-12th graders from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, were randomly sampled to complete the Boston Youth Survey. The correlation research study excluded schools that served adults, previously incarcerated students, suspended students, and severely disabled students to minimize introduction of confounding variables. Participants in the Boston Youth Survey (BYS) were asked specifically with regards to their individual-level sexual orientation and suicidal ideation and attempts among other questions. Of the 2725 individuals sampled, 1878 completed the survey and were asked, on the sexual orientation item in the BYS questionnaire, to identify themselves with 1 of 6 categories that best described themselves: (1) completely heterosexual, (2) mostly heterosexual, (3) bisexual, (4) mostly homosexual, (5) completely homosexual (i.e., gay or lesbian), or (6) not sure. Respondents were then asked explicitly "Have you seriously considered attempting suicide?" and "Have you actually attempted suicide? [within the 12 months preceding survey administration]" with yes and no response options for those questions (Duncan & Hatzenbuehler, 2014). To test their hypothesis, researchers then obtained LGBT hate crimes data with help from the Boston Police Department Community Disorders Unit and linked the community information to

Society’s view of the LGBTQ population has changed dramatically over time. Until 1973, the American Psychological Association had considered homosexuality to be a mental disorder (Silvestre, Beatty, & Friedman, 2013). Today, many LGBTQ couples are getting married and raising children. Although these individuals are receiving more legal benefits, they still must struggle with the stigma that society has associated with these gender and sexual identities (Hequembourg & Dearing, 2013). This stigma has contributed to a variety of issues for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer or questioning individuals. Although little research has been done on LGBTQ families and substance abuse, studies have shown that there are high rates of substance abuse for individuals who are of sexual minorities (McCabe, West, Hughes, & Boyd, 2013; Senreich, 2009; Silvestre, Beatty, & Friedman, 2013). In addition to high rates of substance abuse for LGBTQ individuals, many problems exist for those in families with LGBTQ members. Youth may have a

The article "Gay Teens Are at Risk," was written by Paula Schleis and Kim Hone-McMahan and was published in 2004 in Teens at Risk. This article describes how society is forcing the adolescents in the LGBT community into depression and causing them to attempt suicide. According to the article, gay teens risk loosing friends and loved ones if they 'come out of the closet' and thus either try to fruitlessly hide their sexuality or attempt suicide. Additionally, the article states that one-third of teen suicides are committed by homosexuals because of homophobia. With this article's use of pathos and heart-string-pulling language gain empathy and attention from their readers. Though neither authors have a personal background or connection to the

LGBTQ youth in particular are at high risk for suicide attempts and completions. In the largest national survey of transgender adults to date,

Each year, 5000 LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning) youth end their lives because they don’t have the acceptance they deserve. The LGBTQ+ community faces more discrimination, such as hate crimes, bullying and unnecessary judgement, than the average straight or cis-gender person, making it more difficult to cope with mental illness and achieve the American Dream. The American Dream is slightly tainted for those in the LGBTQ+ community, and suffering from a mental illness. Being queer and diagnosed with a mental disorder is a fatal mix, many of which don’t survive the curse. These minorities are alienated from society and diagnosed with more than just a disorder. Ending their entire

The prevalence of having attempted suicide was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students is 29.4%; while for heterosexual students it is only 6.4%. In transgender people 48% of the respondents stated that they had suicidal thoughts within the last year. When only 4% of the U.S. general population had these thoughts. CONCLUSION

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender youth suicide continues to be a problem in many different countries but very limited data has been gathered about this social issue internationally. While it is well-known that it is still ongoing problem in many countries such as: Israel where a study of 1,134 teenagers were surveyed and results show that 20% of these teenagers have attempted suicide, which is 112 times the rate of the general population. The study also showed that the rate is even higher for LGBT teenagers who have religious backgrounds (Roberts, 2012). In Australia, LGBT youth have the highest rates of suicidality. 20% of transgendered and 15.7% of lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians have reported current suicidal ideation. Same-sex attracted Australians have up to fourteen times higher rates of suicide attempts compared to heterosexual peers. The rate is six times higher for homosexual adolescents (Rosenstreich, 2013). Lastly, In New Zealand; of the young people who completed the 2012 survey “Young People Attracted to the Same Sex or Both Sexes Report”, 59.4% had said they have deliberately self-harmed in the previous twelve months and 47.7% have reported suicidal ideation (Ministry of Youth Development, 2015). The data gathered is enough to prove that LGBT youth suicide is a social issue of international significance.

Suicide is a health problem in the U.S. today. The LGBTQ teens are said to be twice as likely to commit suicide then heterosexual teens. It is stated that not all suicide attempts are a facet of the person being Gay, BI, or transgender. However, many factors can contribute to suicide, such as: hopelessness, major depression, impulsivity, past suicide attempts, conduct disorder, victimization, or rejection. Hence, the risk is higher for rejected youths well into their adulthood. I think the factors that make the LGBTQ teens more risk for suicide is bullying, cyberbullying, self-identification or loss of friendships due their sexual identifications, or orientation, and rejection from their peers, or rejection from their parents/families. Support

The acronym LGBT is often used to describe the collective group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Previous studies, however, documented that the development of sexual orientation for males and females is quite different (Saewyc, 2011). Therefore, this paper will focus primarily on the experience of males even though female and transgender adolescents may have similar experiences. Today, research shows adolescents question their sexuality at an earlier age than previously thought (Saewyc, 2011). Regardless of when a young male begins to explore his sexuality, a lack of friend and family support, bullying, and homelessness are some factors, which could negatively affect the health trajectory of gay teens (Collier, Bos, & Sandfort, 2013; Hatzenbuehler, 2011; Mitchell, Ybarra, & Korchmaros, 2013; Rosario, Schrimshaw, & Hunter, 2012).

The six sources I examined on this topic enhanced each other on several aspects. The first way they collaborated with each other was the causes and effect of being discriminated in the LGBT community, and the effects it has on their mental and physical health. Paul Berrin and Meagan Sutter (2015) complied an article “Discrimination, Mental Health, and Suicidal Ideation among LGBT People of Color”. This study illuminates the effects of discrimination mentally and physically on individuals who are homosexuals and of different ethnicities. The results correlated to the concept that discrimination on the LGBT community “has consistently [been] a major stressor with adverse psychological effects” (Berrin & Sutter, p.1). This is a shame because Berrin and Sutter (2015) point that the majority of the LGBT community that comes out experience

People who are part of the LGBTQ community can get things like depression and anxiety when people are constantly putting them down for being ‘out of the closet’.”They hide their private lives from colleagues, and clients for fear of homophobia…”(The Guardian 1). This is a prime example of the homophobia that queer people deal with all the time. They can get anxiety from worrying about what people would think if someone knew that they were homosexual. They can also get depression from everyone saying that being homosexual “is a sin”, or” it’s

Today’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths come out to family and friends at a younger age and public policy and support for their community is on the rise, yet LGBT youth are still faced with a significant risk of mental health issues. Adolescence is an important period of life characterized by rapid development where teenagers experience physical sexual changes and establish their gender identity. Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual have been proven to demonstrate higher mental health and substance abuse issues than their heterosexual peers (Seil, Desai, & Smith 2014). Stressors from identifying as an LGBT youth come at different milestones in an individual’s life, but are not limited to: the age of first awareness of same-sex orientation, age of labeling oneself as LGBT, age of first disclosure of sexual orientation, and the age at which they disclose to a parent their orientation. When individuals are young, and realize they identify with a sexual minority, they may face psychological danger due to the risk of prejudice, discrimination, and living in a world that fosters “hereosexual love” (Kwak & Kim 2017). Most youths spend about one-third of their life aware of their same-sex orientation, but do not reveal this information to others. These years of secrecy and internalization can create significant worry, social withdrawal, fear, poor academic performance, and school avoidance. Normative experiences for LGBT youth are classified as victimization because of the psychological conflict they impose on individuals. Such experiences include: feeling different, experiencing atypical family life due to sexual orientation issues, and burdens such as the HIV/AIDS epidemic. This type of victimization in youth has been hypothesized to create a detrimental effect on mental health in adult years. Also, many LGBT youth experience verbal and physical attacks from their peers (D’Augelli, 2002). According to the 2011 “national school climate study”, 81.9% of sexual orientation minorities experienced unfair harassment due to their orientation and 63.5% believed their school to be an unsafe environment, ultimately not attending (Kwak & Kim 2017). The minority stress model argues