LGBTQ+ Australians more likely to have experienced mental illness, new report reveals

Non-binary Australians are experiencing mental health issues at more than double the rate of men and women, as new data showed higher rates of mental illness and self-harm across the nation's queer community.

The ABS data, collected as part of the 2020-2022 National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, said three in four (74.5 per cent) lesbian, gay, bisexual or otherwise non-heterosexual (LGB+) Australians have experienced a “mental disorder” at some point in their lives.

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This was compared with 41.7 per cent of heterosexual Australians, according to ‘ABC’ News.

The bureau defined a “mental disorder” as a “clinically significant disturbance in ... cognition, emotional regulation or behaviour”. It noted the term covered a range of disorders including anxiety, affective disorders and substance use.

Almost half of all LBG+ Australians noted high or very high levels of psychological distress compared with one in seven heterosexual people, and 47.8 per cent of LGB+ people had “seriously thought about taking their own life” at some point in their lifetime.

The rate of self-harm among LGB+ Australians was almost six times higher, with 41.2 per cent having self-harmed in their lifetime compared with 7.4 per cent of heterosexual people.

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