On this page, you'll find information on bullying, discrimination, hateful rhetoric, and how these affect victims psychologically and emotionally.
Stats:
- 26% of homosexuals have committed or attempted to commit suicide (Hetch 1998)
- Gay males are 9 times more likely than heterosexual males to attempt suicide (Cochran and Mays 2000)
Causes:
Research has found bullying and discrimination to be positively correlated with increased risk of suicide and/or psychological distress (Meyer 2003)
A recent study by a student researcher found that at Chico State University, both members of the LGBTQ community and ethnic minorities suffer from much more psychological distress than do other groups. The research also found discrimination to be positively correlated with this increased distress. The survey used was the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The results are shown in the graph below. The blue bar represents the stress scale, which ranged from 0 (most healthy) to 60 (most distressed). The cut-off score is 16, with anything above that being symptomatic of depression.
Straight white males: 10
White women: 10
Ethnic minorities: 19
LGBTQ: 21
This study was also conducted at CSU, Long Beach and Cal Poly State. At those colleges, all groups had relatively similar health. The difference? Discrimination wasn't as prevalent among the groups as it is indicated by the students at Chico State. To end the depression, the discrimination must stop.
Where rhetoric against a group is used in a discriminatory or hateful manner, it causes depression. This is intuitively a cause of the recent string of gay teen suicides, as highlighted in the national news. For example, 13 year Asher Brown killed himself with a gun because of the years of bullying he suffered simply because he was born gay.
According to his mother, "My son put a gun to his head because he couldn't take what he was hearing and the constant teasing" (Melloy 2010). Such incidents are tragic, yet not uncommon for people who feel they have no other recourse but to end their life. To read a heartbreaking suicide note from another gay teen, click here.
Solutions:
Fortunately, some people stand up to intolerance and hateful rhetoric. One young teen recently testified before a school board on behalf of his teacher. The teacher was admonished for sending another student out of his class for advocating anti-gay messages.
Fortunately, some people stand up to intolerance and hateful rhetoric. One young teen recently testified before a school board on behalf of his teacher. The teacher was admonished for sending another student out of his class for advocating anti-gay messages.
With more people standing up to bullying and not using derogatory language, the spread of suicide and depression can be abated. What can you do? If you aren't an activist, simply refrain from making gay jokes, using the word "faggot," and saying things like, "That's so gay." While mild, phrases like these add to a climate of harmful rhetoric that affects gays in a negative way. Help stop bullying today; you can make a difference.
Citations:
Cochran, Susan and Vickie Mays. 2000. "Lifetime prevalence of suicide symptoms and affective disorders among men reporting same-sex sexual partners: results from NHANES III." American Journal of Public Health. 90(4): 573-578
Hetch, JB. 1998. "Suicidality and psychological adjustment in a community sample of lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth." DAI, 58-07B: 3924
Meyer, Ilan. (2003). "Prejudice, Social Stress, and Mental Health in Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Populations: Conceptual Issues and Research Evidence." Psychological Bulletin. 129(5):674-697.
Melloy, Killan. 2010. "Family, Politicians, Mourners Crowd Memorial for Texas Gay Bullying Victim, 13." Edge, Boston, Massachusetts. October 4.
No comments:
Post a Comment