The results of the American study showed that after same-sex marriages were legalised in the state of Massachusetts, the amount of visits to health clinics experienced a significant drop, irrespective of whether or not the men in question were in a stable relationship.

The researchers who conducted the study found that there was a 13% drop in health visits after the new law was passed and there was also a reduction in blood pressure issues, depression and stress related “adjustment disorders”.

Lead author of the study Dr Mark Hatzenbuehler said,” Our results suggest that removing these barriers improves the health of gay and bisexual men

“Marriage equality may produce broad public health benefits by reducing the occurrence of stress-related health conditions.”

With previous research already indicating that gay men are more likely to experience depression and/or suicidal thoughts then heterosexual men, this new wave of research adds further weight to the idea that social exclusion – including disapproval over gay marriage, could be partly to blame.

Terrence Higgins Trust, a UK-based sexual health and HIV charity, have agreed that there is a known link between health and happiness.

According to a spokesperson from the charity, we should not be surprised that individuals who are treated as second-class citizens have low self-esteem – which may be why they are more likely to engage in behaviour that poses health risks.

“It’s no surprise that people who are treated as second class citizens tend to have low self esteem, which in turn makes them more likely to take risks.

“Whether this is drugs, alcohol abuse, or unsafe sex, treating gay men unequally has lasting repercussions for their health.”

If you or someone you know are having difficulty coming to terms with your sexuality and you would like to talk about your experiences with a qualified counsellor in confidence, please visit the homepage of this site and use the search tool to contact a professional in your local area.

View and comment on the original BBC News article.

A ten-year-old child, born as a boy, has returned from the summer holidays dressed as a little girl.

The child has been diagnosed with gender dysphoria, a condition that means an individual believes they are not the gender they were born with.

The child’s mother has explained to the press that, growing up, her daughter always felt uncomfortable dressing in boy’s clothes because she had a girl’s mind trapped in a boy’s body.

Before the summer holidays, other children knew their classmate as ‘him’. When they returned to school, they were gathered in an assembly and told that their friend has become a girl, and that they must now refer to him as ‘her’.

Relatives and teachers have praised the child for revealing the new look to her classmates, despite having apparently suffered verbal abuse and bullying at the hands of some outraged parents.

Sex change surgery is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 but the youngster already plans to start taking hormone tablets before puberty. The hormones will help counter the effects of puberty by restricting hair growth, aiding the development of hips and breasts and preventing the voice from breaking.

Her mother said: “It’s going to be a hard school life for us and for her as well. But she is a strong person and I’m sure we will get through it as a family. The other pupils have been little stars who have accepted my daughter into the fold.”

The school fully supports the pupil’s extraordinary decision and has allowed her to dress in the female version of the school uniform. Some parents, however, are unhappy with the decision and have since lodged complaints.

15,000 people in the UK have gender dysphoria. If you or someone you care about has this condition and you would like help and guidance, you may wish to speak with a counsellor. A counsellor can take you through every single stage of gender transformation, from the initial surgery to the time spent recovering and adjusting afterwards. Visit the Counselling Directory to find a counsellor dealing with gender dysphoria near you.

View the original Metro article here.

The magazine’s editor Matthew Todd is quick to dispel the cliché that all gay men are having a ‘fabulous’ time, partying every night and living flamboyant and happy lifestyles. Actually there are far higher rates of depression, anxiety and suicide, substance abuse and sex addiction among the homosexual community than there is among the straight.

Recent research conducted at London’s University College hospital has found there are significantly higher rates of mental illness among gay men than in straight men, which correlates with evidence showing that gay men are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide.

Todd believes this is a hugely sensitive issue among gay men, after such a long and hard fight to be seen as equals many want to give the impression they are happy with who they are but are actually suffering from feelings of isolation and shame.

Though homosexuality is something that is far more widely accepted in today’s society than it previously was, for some gay men the damage has already been inflicted. It was only in 1993 that ”Homosexuality” was removed from the list of psychiatric disorders, meaning that older gay men would have experienced the stigma of homosexuality at its strongest making it difficult for them to seek help and solace at the time from either friends and family or from mental health providers.

Dominic Davies is the director and founder of the UK’s largest independent counselling organisation (Pink Therapy) which works gender and sexual minority clients: “If you don’t feel you can trust your doctor, you are not going to disclose to them. We have had quite robust research that shows significantly poorer mental health among gay men and lesbians than in the general population and significantly higher rates of drinking, smoking and drug-taking. The result of living as a stigmatised minority is that you self-medicate.” He said.

Tim Franks from the gay and lesbian mental health charity Pace has stressed that mental health care providers in Britain are not taking the issue seriously enough. He went on to describe how one in four of the young people visiting Pace workshops has already attempted suicide.

Much more needs to be done to help tackle these issues and Todd hopes that ‘the issues issue’ of Attitude will be just one of many steps in the right direction: “If there is a gay community, we need to look after people who are having a bad time. For the first time, we have concrete answers. If you have these issues, there’s a way to deal with them.” He said.

If you are struggling to come to terms with your sexual orientation or are concerned about reactions of loved ones or any other aspects and would like to discuss this with a counsellor in confidence then please visit the homepage of this site where you can use the search tool to locate a qualified professional in your local area.

More information on sexuality can be found here.

Original article

Support will be offered through a variety of mediums that young people feel comfortable with. They can receive counselling online, over the phone, via text or of course face to face. This money isn’t just going to benefit those who seek counselling but also the local community who will have a chance to get involved through mentoring and volunteering opportunities.

Christine Mead, Head of Wellbeing Services at THT, said:

“This is a breakthrough for THT in our drive to develop more comprehensive services, led by young people for young people.”

She also said that by using technology they are aiming to reach out to a growing number of young people who ordinarily may not have engaged with traditional services. The fund enables THT to bridge the gap between mental and sexual health and instead looks at the well being of the whole person.

The three year project will begin this month and is aimed at young people who are concerned about sex, sexuality, relationships, sexual health and sexually transmitted infections. The charity said the projects working title is T2T (an abbreviation of Talk to Terry) but the final name ill be selected by the young persons executive group.

Patients who are locked up due to safety fears end up feeling singled out and like prisoners, which can contribute to destructive behaviour and promote suicidal thoughts. The number of patients self-harming went up by 20 %, and causing physical aggression to others went up by 11%.

The team that carried out the research suggested that placing patients on open wards with staff manning the entrances.

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