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(Christchurch, New Zealand) Research by Otago University¹s Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences suggests that young gay men have a significantly greater risk of developing mental health problems than their heterosexual counterparts.

The latest research paper from a long running Christchurch Health and Development Study, now in its tenth year, examines a sample of nearly 1000 Christchurch born young people. It shows that gays are associated with increasing rates of depression, anxiety, illicit drug dependence, suicidal thoughts and attempts.

Gay males, the study shows, have mental health problems five times higher than young heterosexual males. Lesbians have mental health problems nearly twice those of exclusively heterosexual females.

³Our findings clearly support the view that young people of gay, lesbian and bisexual orientation are at increased risk of mental health problems and suicidal behaviors,² said Professor David Fergusson.

³Gay males appear to be at greater risk, but both lesbian and bisexual young people also have higher rates of these problems than young people of exclusively heterosexual orientation.²

Other findings from this study suggest that 1 in 6 cohort members have experienced some degree of same sex attraction, or consensual sexual contact, by 25 years of age. However only 3% were predominantly gay, while 10% reported being predominantly heterosexual, but admitted some same sex attraction or experience.

Despite these New Zealand findings, which reflect concerns in the gay community internationally, Professor Fergusson says the background reasons for this increased risk remain to be established.

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I think young people should go to Europe, get an education and enjoy life away from the drudgery of conservatism in Canada and the greying of our northern communities. Canada, like New Zealand, is becoming one large piece of retirement real estate - a Puerto Rico du Nord.

[ 03 August 2005: Message edited by: Fidel ]

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Gee, ya think maybe rampant homophobia has anything to do with it?

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I think suicide is a major problem in new zealand in general.
I'm not trying to downplay the effect that homophobia has on gay New Zealanders, just making an observation.
Question: Why did they say "exclusively heterosexul"? Isn't that somewhat misleading? As far as I can tell very few people are completely heterosexual. Most people have a couple of homosexual fantasies at some point, regardless of wheather their primarily het or not.

[ 03 August 2005: Message edited by: CMOT Dibbler ]

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Originally posted by CMOT Dibbler:

I think suicide is a major problem in new zealand in general.

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No argument, CMOT. But the thing is, the study found that in relation to the general population, gay males were at a *higher* risk of suicide.

No matter how ya slice it, that's a problem.

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I'd wager it comes from things like having your mum and dad tell you that they'd rather that you were dead. That sorta news is depressing...

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