There is strong evidence to suggest that gay men and lesbians have higher rates of suicide and attempted suicide than the general population. Young gay men and lesbians are particularly at risk of suicide. [21]

In 1993 The Department of Health published the Health of the Nation Key Area Handbook: Mental Illness which makes reference specifically to lesbian and gay mental health issues. A Department of Health leaflet says that those at increased risk of suicide include people "whose sexual orientation brings them into conflict with their family or others". [22]

Gay people generally, and young gay people in particular may face a number of pressures due to their sexuality. Many can feel isolated, they may have difficulties coming to terms with their own sexuality, problems arising from society's attitude towards them, direct experience of facing discrimination and being stigmatised.

Added to this, levels of substance abuse in the gay population are high. American statistics [23] suggest that alcoholism affects the gay community at a rate of 20 per cent-33 per cent which far exceeds the general population at 10 per cent. Reasons suggested for this include the problems of dealing with societal oppression, using alcohol and drugs as a means of coping with depression, and the pivotal role of bars in gay social networks.

Much of the research into suicide in the gay and lesbian communities comes from the US. A 1989 report commissioned by the US Government concluded that gay and lesbian young people were two or three times more likely to attempt suicide than other young people and that they may account for 30 per cent of youth suicides. [24]

Earlier research by the London Gay Teenage Group in 1982 found that 19 per cent of the young gay and lesbian group had attempted suicide.

A British survey of four thousand lesbians, gay men and bisexuals found that 34 per cent of men and 24 per cent of women had experienced violence because of their sexuality. 32 per cent had been harassed in the last five years and 73 per cent had been called names in the last five years because of their sexuality. [25]

Discrimination on a number of levels can create practical problems for gay people which can be stressful and cause material hardship. Same sex relationships are not legally recognised. This can cause problems around issues such as immigration, next of kin, pensions, inheritance rights, taxation, adoption, fostering, housing and employment rights.

Being gay can be grounds for exclusion or dismissal from some kinds of employment and there is no legal protection against discrimination on the grounds of sexual identity.

Gay men and lesbians experiencing mental distress may have problems accessing appropriate services such as counselling or psychotherapy, as a number of counselling and psychotherapeutic methodologies pathologise gay sexuality.

Recent research reports that between 25 per cent-60 per cent of gay people seek counselling at some stage in their lives, and that up to 50 per cent of these individuals report discontent with their experiences. [26]

The Health Education Authority mental health promotion on "Sexual Identity" states that: "Some gay people internalise negative attitudes towards their sexuality and experience feelings of self-hatred, shame and low self-esteem. Some studies have suggested that internalised homophobia is a risk factor for alcohol and drug dependency. Anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide and attempted suicide have all been linked with the combined effects of the experience of prejudice and discrimination and internalised negative feelings."

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