Homosexuality

This section is drawn from the focus group report initiated by Gai Écoute entitled L’urgence d’agir - La prévention du suicide chez les personnes homosexuelles, une question de santé mentale, September 29, 2004. It is reproduced with the authorization of Gai Écoute.

“While some people question the extent of suicide among homosexuals, few can deny that they go through an identity crisis regarding their sexual orientation, a period that is part of being gay.

This crisis period is characterized by questioning, discomfort, stress and anxiety related to the discovery and awareness of a sexual orientation that is not that of the majority, which makes people feel isolated and alone.

The timing, duration and age of this sexual identity crisis vary. It occurs at puberty and adolescence for many, upon adulthood for others, as we discover we are sexually attracted to a person of the same sex.

Generally, because of the secrecy surrounding homosexuality, homosexuals do not have the support of their loved ones, as is often the case in other difficult situations. Hiding behind silence and secrecy throughout this process, homosexuals face destabilizing factors, creating stress and anxiety.

Being a homosexual is not a problem in and of itself. Homosexuals do not suffer trauma from the mere fact of their sexual orientation, but rather from their exposure to homophobia. The social pressure behind homophobia creates an important stress. It manifests itself in every possible form, including rejection and discrimination, creating shame, isolation and solitude.

While the phenomenon is difficult to measure, there are an impressive number of studies about homosexuality and suicide that note the over-representation of cases of suicide among homosexuals.

Among the many studies filed, we should mention a Canadian study conducted by Bageley and Tremblay in 1997 of 750 young men in the Calgary area that showed that young homosexual and bisexual men account for 62% of suicide attempts among young men, although the homosexual population only represented 12.7% of the total sample. Here in Quebec, 600 respondents from the Omega Cohort, a study on the health of men who have sexual relations with other men, showed that 36% of them had attempted suicide. For their part, 15% of the young people had attempted suicide more than once. (Report from a focus group initiated by Gai Écoute, L’urgence d’agir, 2004, p. 8).

Young homosexuals have a rate of suicide attempts that is six to 16 times higher than that observed among young people in Quebec. (Secrétariat à la jeunesse du Québec. 2006-2009 Youth Action Strategy, Portrait de la jeunesse, 2006)

 

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Gay Line
Gay Line is a centre for assistance and information for people concerned about matters related to sexual orientation. It refers, informs and helps young people who are unsure about their sexuality.

Hot line:
Phone number in Montreal: 514.866.5090
Phone number outside Montreal: 1.888.505.1010 (toll-free)
E-mail assistance service:  aide@gaiecoute.org
www.gayline.qc.ca