Young Gay & Bi People Four Times Likelier to Self-Harm

Young gay and bisexual people are four times more likely to self-harm and experience higher rates of depressive symptoms than their straight counterparts, reports Sky News.

The statistics come from a new study by University College London, which found lesbian, gay and bisexual young people are more likely to experience these symptoms than their straight peers from the age of ten up until their early twenties.

University College London surveyed 4,828 people born in the 1990s and found that they were twice as likely to fit into symptoms of clinical depression. They also found this increased at a higher rate in adolescence.

“Our findings suggest that clinicians who encounter young people, whether in primary or secondary care, sexual health services, the emergency department, or as school nurses, should be mindful about sexuality in considering the wider context for depressive symptoms or self-harm,” explainedco-author of the study, Alexandra Pitman.

“Clinicians should use language and questions that reflect openness about sexuality, and not assume heterosexuality, and they should be aware that a young person who identifies as not exclusively heterosexual may have struggled with mental health problems from early in development.”

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