Is Sexual Orientation Related to Mental Health Problems and Suicidality in Young People?

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Abstract
IN RECENT years, there has been growing concern and debate about the extent to which young people of gay, lesbian, or bisexual (GLB) sexual orientation are at increased risk of mental health problems.1-5 These issues have emerged in clear relief in the context of debates about whether GLB young people are at increased risk of suicide and suicidal behaviors. Specifically, it has been argued that because of a series of social processes that center on homophobic attitudes, GLB youth are exposed to serious personal stresses that increase their likelihood of suicidal behavior.6-8 However, a reappraisal of these claims showed them not to be well founded in evidence, and reviews of this issue concluded that problems in existing research were such that no clear conclusions about the role of sexual orientation in suicidal behavior could be drawn.7,8