Family rejection linked to depression, suicide in gays

(Associated Press) UPDATED 2008-12-29

New research suggests that the way parents or guardians respond to a young person's sexual orientation can have a profound impact on his or her mental health later in life. Researchers found that young gays whose families reacted negatively when they revealed their sexual orientation were more than eight times as likely to have attempted suicide, nearly six times as vulnerable to severe depression, and more than three times at risk of drug use than those whose parents had responded more positively to the news. The investigators also found that being barred from associating with gay peers was as damaging to the youth as being physically beaten or verbally abused by their parents in terms of negative feedback. Read full story >

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