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A recent survey revealed that members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community are more prone to suffer certain types of mental illnesses compared to heterosexuals. This Cambridge University survey found that 12 percent of lesbian women and almost 19 percent of bisexual women had mental health problems. This is contrasted with only 6 percent of heterosexual women with the same type of mental condition. On the other hand, 11 percent of gay men and nearly 15 percent of bisexual men reported having mental problems, compared to only 5 percent of heterosexual men.
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These statistics can be attributed to an increased occurrence of bullying and less sense of self-esteem and self-worth. The worrying part of this survey is that the results span age range and social status. This means that even among the elderly, there is a feeling of insecurity and doubt. Unaddressed, these mental illness could lead to potential safety hazards. Several studies on depression have shown that members of the LGBT community are more likely to attempt (and succeed in) suicide than any other recorded population. Sexual minorities were also twice more likely to have negative experiences with primary care services, according to a study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
These data creates a silent plea among health providers and facilities to create better care and assistance for the LGBT community. The goal would be to provide the same level of comfort and security allocated for the "average" and "normal" person. It is, after all, the most basic of human rights -- to feel accepted and be treated with the same level of respect.
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Learn more about LGBT retirement options by following this RainbowVision Santa Fe Google+ page.
