Study: Homosexual lifestyle strongly linked to depression, suicide

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September 21st, 2008, 08:01 AM
travelinman

LONDON - A new study in the United Kingdom has revealed that homosexuals are about 50% more likely to suffer from depression and engage in substance abuse than the rest of the population, reports Health24.com. After analyzing 25 earlier studies on sexual orientation and mental health, researchers, in a study published in the medical journal BMC Psychiatry, also found that the risk of suicide jumped over 200% if an individual had engaged in a homosexual lifestyle. These findings strongly support the results of similar studies conducted in the United States, which have unveiled the severe physical and psychological health risks
September 22nd, 2008, 11:59 AM
Beachcomber

My guess would be that stems from societal pressures and discrimination than any inherent tendency.
September 23rd, 2008, 01:34 PM
cincygreg

It does seem that depression from the fallout from any kind of relationship is fairly common.

GL may have a solid point there though.
September 23rd, 2008, 02:05 PM
Beachcomber

Quote:

These findings strongly support the results of similar studies conducted in the United States, which have unveiled the severe physical and psychological health risks

Without references to the particular studies, gives it as much credibility as the National Enquirer. The whole issue stems from biblical intolerance, I see no logical or natural basis for any argument whatsoever.
September 25th, 2008, 08:44 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Beachcomber:
<blockquote>quote:<hr /> These findings strongly support the results of similar studies conducted in the United States, which have unveiled the severe physical and psychological health risks

Without references to the particular studies, gives it as much credibility as the National Enquirer. The whole issue stems from biblical intolerance, I see no logical or natural basis for any argument whatsoever.<hr /></blockquote>This is a complex topic that can't be reduced to a one paragraph blurb.

While I don't know if there's any genetic reasons for "homesexual depression," there are certainly a lot of external things that make things rather difficult. Over time it really does wear one down.
September 26th, 2008, 10:34 AM
Beachcomber

Quote:

there are certainly a lot of external things that make things rather difficult. Over time it really does wear one down.

That's basically what I was saying. I used to buy into the whole "it's unnatural" argument too. Then I have read how many animal species are gay. Something the bible thumpers don't want people to know. I'll stand by the idea I formed a long time ago, it's a perfectly natural form of population control. If God didn't want gay people I don't think he would have made so many. My 2 cents.
September 28th, 2008, 05:37 AM
reason

To its credit, The National Enquirer has broke some legitimate scandals the mainstream media wouldn't touch. John Edwards' extramarital affair comes to mind.

They've already zinged Palin with accusations that she had an affair.
September 29th, 2008, 05:41 PM
cincygreg

Yeah but they all fail in comparison to the Paula, Gennifer and Monica years LOL!
September 30th, 2008, 10:40 AM
Beachcomber

Quote:

Originally posted by The Big Sexy:
To its credit, The National Enquirer has broke some legitimate scandals the mainstream media wouldn't touch. John Edwards' extramarital affair comes to mind.

They've already zinged Palin with accusations that she had an affair.

Bingo. Mainstream media left Edwards alone because they won't attack one of their own unless they have no choice (like the Clinton scandals) The mainstream media attacked President Bush like a pack of wolves in 2000 over "alleged" cocaine use when he was younger, 20 years ago. Obama comes right out in his book and says he used cocaine and smoked pot and it is quietly brushed under the rug. Please don't tell me it was all about "the confession"; the media was saying how dangerous it would be for us to have a POTUS that ever used cocaine. Oh wait, no that's just a GOP POTUS. It's OK if a Democrat does it. I also saw a headline the other day questioning who is running Alaska while Palin is running for V/P. I didn't even read the story. Who is fulfilling senatorial duties for Obama and Biden while they run? The media never uses Obama's full name. Barack HUSSEIN Obama. I guess people did forget 9/11 pretty damn quick. Sad.

[ September 30, 2008 07:41 AM: Message edited by: Beachcomber ]
October 20th, 2008, 12:35 PM
reason

I've edited this to protect privacy, but last week I got this very sad email from a childhood friend of mine:

Friends of Fred and Chris,

For those of you who haven't already heard, I'm sorry to break the news in this impersonal way, but my brother Chris killed himself Thursday. I've been too busy with breaking the news to my family, arranging the funeral, grieving, etc., to even tell my friends until now. Here are the details of the funeral arrangements.

Obviously, this is very short notice, and many of you live very far away, so this is not a request for you to go to any trouble to attend, but Ithought you should know, and this is the easiest way to get the wordout. Sorry... We've made the funeral arrangments for Chris: St Catholic Church From 10:30 to 11:30, the family and friends will be available to meet, talk, accept condolences, etc., in an unstructured setting. We'll have pictures of Chris, but no viewing of his body, which has been donated intact to a medical research organization. Feel free to stop by briefly, if you have to get back to work or something right away. From 11:30 to 12:30, you are further invited to attend the Catholic funeral mass for Chris. At 1:00pm, you are further invited to attend a luncheon. Please reply via e-mail if youplan to attend this, so we can get a rough head count.

There is also a memorial service being planned by Chris' dear friends in the local Philadelphia gay community. It will likely be in the city, and likely after some friends return from travel outside the country. Details to follow... In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention at: http://OutOfTheDarkness.org Please e-mail any good pictures of Chris. Please also forward this info to any other friends of Chris. Thanks,--Fred

[ October 20, 2008 12:51 PM: Message edited by: The Big Sexy ]
October 20th, 2008, 12:43 PM
reason

Hey Big Sexy,

Thanks for your note and thoughts.

I went through my own issues of depression and had a very rough time during my teen years and early 20s but finally pulled myself together and managed to graduate in 1990. I remember that my dad got his first computer in those days and it seems that Chris spent all his time working/playing on it ? I have almost no memories of him during his teen years. By the time he left for college, I hardly new him at all. And I?ve had only a handful of interactions with him since then ? the time I drove him back to school after he had broken his arm in a skateboarding accident and come home for a few days, and the time that I bailed him out paying all his bills and setting him up in a new apartment. I recognized that Chris was depressed but I had no regular contact with him (he wouldn?t allow it) so I never new if he was doing well or really poorly. It seems that he spent a lot of time doing poorly and hiding it from everyone else. This experience has been really hard for my whole family but probably not as bad as it would have been if we were in more regular contact with Chris.

T

[ October 20, 2008 09:45 AM: Message edited by: The Big Sexy ]

[ October 20, 2008 11:16 AM: Message edited by: The Big Sexy ]
October 20th, 2008, 01:51 PM
Beachcomber

Sorry about your loss. That is sad. I don't understand why some people think a person's sexuality makes any damn difference what kind of person he/she is. It just shouldn't matter. Straight, Bi, Gay, who cares...

[ October 20, 2008 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Beachcomber ]
October 20th, 2008, 02:10 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Beachcomber:
Sorry about your loss. That is sad. I don't understand why some people think a person's sexuality makes any damn difference what kind of person he/she is. It just shouldn't matter. Straight, Bi, Gay, who cares...

[ October 20, 2008 10:52 AM: Message edited by: Beachcomber ]

I actually didn't know Chris other than that he was the little brother of a grade school friend of mine. The last I saw him, he was this cute little kid who drew with crayon all over the walls of his bedroom.

Chris's family was a big part of my childhood, and even though we don't talk much, there's still a strong connection to my past.

The news of Chris's suicide opened up discussion of depression between my family and his. As a result, I came to find out that one of my family members has had a rather significant struggle with depression. The signs were there, I just didn't recognize them.
October 20th, 2008, 02:24 PM
Beachcomber

I have struggled with depression since I was about 4 yrs old. My maternal grandmother was institutionalized for it and died when I was 5, buried on Christmas Eve. (So I had just turned 5 earlier that month, 1969) I can still remember how cold it was and the snow blowing around when we went to Spring Grove Cemetery for the burial. My depression seems to have started at that time. I have always channeled it into creative energy. The more depressed I get the more creative I get. It's a monstrous price to pay for creativity, but commonly found in a lot of artists through out history. I have never sought treatment for it, I just see it as part of who I am and as a creative engine.
October 20th, 2008, 08:25 PM
reason

Quote:

Originally posted by Beachcomber:
I have struggled with depression since I was about 4 yrs old. My maternal grandmother was institutionalized for it and died when I was 5, buried on Christmas Eve. (So I had just turned 5 earlier that month, 1969) I can still remember how cold it was and the snow blowing around when we went to Spring Grove Cemetery for the burial. My depression seems to have started at that time. I have always channeled it into creative energy. The more depressed I get the more creative I get. It's a monstrous price to pay for creativity, but commonly found in a lot of artists through out history. I have never sought treatment for it, I just see it as part of who I am and as a creative engine.

Before you made this post, I'd been trying to find an excellent article about the connection between depression and creativity. Unfortunately, the person who sent it to me doesn't remember the article at all.

I tend to lean to the "down" side. I'm not exactly an upbeat person. While I've never wanted to kill myself, I understand why people end their lives.

The ways I chase away the blues is by exercising 3 or 4 times a week - that's the best pick-me-up ever. Jogging or just going to the gym for a moderate to heavy workout really does the trick.

Other than that, I keep myself way too busy so I distract myself from the futility of it all. Between work, school, a fixer-upper, routine workouts, attempts at a social life, and assorted other distractions like playing in a tennis league, taking golf lessons, or planning a trip here or there, and arguing with people online, there's no time to be depressed. I have a laundry list of things I need to do/want to do.

My neighbor has nicknamed me "Worker Bee," but I think that's primarily because I'd set ambitious goals to get outdoor projects done this year and when I'm outside, I'm obviously on a mission and get irritated when I'm interrupted.

[ October 20, 2008 05:26 PM: Message edited by: The Big Sexy ]

[ October 21, 2008 10:28 AM: Message edited by: The Big Sexy ]
October 21st, 2008, 10:27 AM
Beachcomber

Keeping busy is good for mind and spirit. [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]