July 18, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study published in the Journal of Family and Community Health looked at parental sexuality disclosure, discrimination, and depression among Black sexual minority men and Black transgender women. “There were two main goals of our study,” study author, Rodman E. Turpin told us. “First, we wanted to identify the relationship between discrimination and depression among Black sexual minority men and Black transgender women. Discrimination experienced by these populations can include social and structural racism, homophobia, transphobia, and more, so we used a comprehensive measure of discrimination for our study.”
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March 7, 2023
by Patricia Tomasi
A new study published in the Journal of Child Development looked at perceived parental social support and psychological control and how it can predict depressive symptoms for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning youth in the United States. “The purpose of our study was to test how parent support and parent control relate to symptoms of depression for LGBTQ youth,” study author Amy McCurdy of the University of Texas at Austin told us. “We were hoping to establish that general parenting practices matter for LGBTQ youth, which seems obvious, but in fact little research has done this.”
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June 29, 2022
by Elizabeth Pratt
Fewer high school students attempt suicide in states that have enacted hate crime laws that protect LGBT+ people.
Researchers from the University of Indianapolis and The Ohio State University found that the reduction in suicide rates didn’t only occur among sexual and gender minority students, but also among heterosexual students.
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April 16, 2021
by Tina Arnoldi
A recent study found that BPD diagnosis was higher for the LGB community than heterosexual individuals. “Health care professionals evaluating patients for factors linked to BPD might ignore environmental stressors that LGB persons face or be unable to competently assess the extent to which the behaviors signify BPD or normative reactions to stress.”
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February 19, 2021
by Tina Arnoldi
The "It Gets Better" project aims to reduce suicide among LGBT adolescents by offering narratives by mainly adult LGBT persons. A recent, but very small study, found both positive and negative aspects of these campaigns. Messages were helpful for promoting hope, but there was a perceived lack of diversity on sexual identities, and some shallowness around suicidal ideation. I invited experts to comment on whether these types of campaigns can make a difference.
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January 1, 2021
by Tina Arnoldi
COVID-19 has affected all communities in some way, economically, physically,and mentally. New data released by the HRC and PSB research found that “LGBTQ people are more likely to have experienced a cut in work hours, are more likely to feel that their personal finances are in worse shape and are more likely to be taking steps to actively prepare for the virus.”
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March 29, 2020
by Elizabeth Pratt
A study of the largest sample of transgender people ever surveyed found that possession of gender-concordant ID is associated with a lower rate of suicidal thoughts and suicidal planning, and a reduction in psychological stress among transgender people.
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November 1, 2019
by Tina Arnoldi
In a recent survey of 27,715 transgender adults in JAMA Psychiatry, gender identity conversion efforts (GICE) were associated with higher odds of attempted suicide and severe psychological distress. Many jurisdictions ban this practice and several professional organizations oppose it because they recognize the adverse mental health outcomes seen in those who experienced these efforts.
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March 5, 2019
by Patricia Tomasi
According to a new study published in the Lancet, adolescents who identified as sexual minorities (LGBQ - lesbian, gay, bisexual, questioning) at 16 years of age were at an increased risk of depression compared to heterosexuals from very early on in adolescence, even as young as ten years of age. The results of the study point to potential mental-health problems before a teen’s conscious identification of their sexual orientation.
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June 8, 2018
by Tina Arnoldi
In some states, licensed counselors are banned from providing therapy to change sexual orientation or gender identity. Yet, there are still organizations that offer to help those who no longer want to identify as LGBT.
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