For anyone who might be interested and yes despite there lack of mention of Bisexuals in the title it covers us too. Ireland is one of those countries were coming out and accepting ones sexuality can still be very hard on a person.

Gay and Lesbian Mental Health lecture by aware.ie 10/06/09

http://www.aware.ie/lectures.php

Dublin Monthly Lecture Series 2009

All lectures listed below take place at the Lecture Theatre, Swift Centre, St. Patrick’s Hospital, James’s St, D8 at 7.30pm sharp. Paid parking is available in the car park at St Patrick’s Hospital (entrance via Steevan’s Lane), or alternatively take the Luas to Heuston Station.

http://glen.ie/mentalHealth.html

The mental health and well-being of lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) people in Ireland was highlighted in the PDF Icon2003 GLEN Mental Health Report (published in conjunction the former Northern Area Health Board). This report describes how the experience of marginalisation can impact on LGB people’s general and emotional health and their use of health and social services. In addition to this, international research has highlighted the negative impact that marginalisation, stigmatisation and discrimination can have on the mental health and well-being of some LGB people.

Some of the key findings from research are:

* LGB people are more likely to attempt suicide compared to their heterosexual peers
* LGB people are also more likely to have substance abuse or mental health problems (depression and anxiety), which are known risk factors for both attempted and completed suicide

A large body of published empirical research clearly refutes the notion that homosexuality per se is indicative of or correlated with psychopathology. Indeed, the American Psychological Association (APA) state, “The reality is that homosexuality is not an illness. It does not require treatment and is not changeable”. The APA also state “for some people the coming out process is difficult, for others it is not. Often lesbian, gay and bisexual people feel afraid, different, and alone when they first realize that their sexual orientation is not a heterosexual one”.

“This is particularly true for people becoming aware of their gay, lesbian, or bisexual orientation as a child or adolescent, which is not uncommon. And, depending on their families and where they live, they may have to struggle against prejudice and misinformation about homosexuality. Children and adolescents may be particularly vulnerable to the deleterious effects of bias and stereotypes. They may also fear being rejected by family, friends, co-workers, and religious institutions. Some gay people have to worry about losing their jobs or being harassed at school if their sexual orientation became well known”.