Mental Health ConcernsMental Health Concerns

  • Vincke, De Rycke, and Bolton (1999) identified a link between the chronic stress experienced by many gay men and higher rates of depression (as cited in Banks, 2003).
  • Most psychological problems experienced by gay men and lesbians are the result of:
    • coping with negative reactions if they are open about their sexual orientation, or
    • keeping their sexual orientation hidden and fear of disclosure if they are not.
    • Based on studies of the incidence of depression in LGB and non-LGB populations, members of the LGB communities are more than twice as likely to experience depression as their heterosexual peers (Banks, 2003).
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