The psychiatrists are worried about us LGBT - Australia

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has written a position statement in regards to LGBT people in both Australia and New Zealand, and our mental health. 

Or lack of it. Turns out they're very worried about it.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists has raised concerns over alarming statistics around the mental health of LGBTI people, throwing its weight behind the push for marriage equality on health grounds.

The RANZCP published a position statement this week, 'Recognising and addressing the mental health needs of the LGBTI population.' The paper outlines that the college is "concerned that a disproportionate number of Australia and New Zealand’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) population experience mental illness and psychological distress."

"Evidence shows that discrimination and marginalisation experienced by the LGBTI population increases the risk of developing mental health issues, and also creates barriers to accessing supportive services."

As we outlined in February, in the wake of the Safe Schools Coalition debate, LGBTI people are between three and fourteen times more likely to commit suicide than heterosexual Australians, one in six young LGBTI people have attempted suicide, and one in three have self harmed. Huffington Post, Australia

The statistics are grim reading, with high levels of suicidality in the community:

In Australia , LGBTI people have very high rate s of suicidality, with 20% of trans people and 15.7% of lesbian, gay and b isexual people reporting current suicidal ideation (Rosenstreich, 2013). S ame - sex attracted people are up to 14 times more likely to attempt suicide, twice as likely to experience anxiety disorders and three times more likely to experience affective disord ers compared with the broader population ( Rosenstreich, 2013; ABS, 2007). RANCP position statement

In particular they make a point of supporting marriage equality in Australia for the sake of our mental health:

The RANZCP supports marriage equality, in recognition of the link between improved health outcomes and legislative change of this sort for both same - sex attracted people and their children (Commissioner for Children Tasmania, 2015). The RANZCP emphasises the importance of ongoing, respectful dialogue with those on both sides of the marriage equality debate in Australia. RANZCP position statement

Readers here would realise this is such an issue for us in Australia and how frustrated the LGBT community is having our marriage rights used as a political football in Canberra. Something so absolutely simple as a free vote in Canberra would solve the impasse overnight, but the Lieberals have turned it into an almighty dogs breakfast of a political mess. I'm sure the Australian Christian Lobby is very pleased about that.

Particularly for me as I've been married before to my late wife, so I know what marriage means and what it's like. Now simply because David is a male I can't. 

You know he's wanted to put decorative promise type jewellery on the marriage finger on my left hand before, but I've said no. Nothing is going there until we can be married here in Australia.

But they don't give a fuck in the Canberra Lieberal party. A few bitter white Catholic men with no lives don't want us to be happy, as simple as that. It can get very depressing at times.