Report Published On Well-Being Of LGBTI Community

A majority of LGBTI people aged 26 and over are "doing well, report good self-esteem and are proud of their LGBTI identity", according to a report published by LGBTIreland.

The research, funded by the National Office for Suicide Prevention and undertaken by a team at Trinity College Dublin, led by Professor Agnes Higgins, also found that these positive findings are not shared across all age groups.

It highlights that LGBTI people still face "considerable barriers to good mental health, including bullying at school, fear of rejection and discrimination, harassment and violence and negative attitudes and stereotypes".

Commenting on the report, Odhrán Allen, Director of Mental Health at GLEN (gay + lesbian equality network), said: "Some of the findings of The LGBTIreland Report are harrowing, showing higher levels of self-harm and suicidal behaviour among LGBTI teenagers as well as worrying levels of severe and extremely severe stress, anxiety and depression. Being LGBTI in itself doesn’t increase the risk of poor mental health. It’s the experience of being bullied, being rejected or being harassed because you are LGBTI that leads to higher levels of self-harm and attempted suicide."

The full report can be read here.

(MH/LM)