Supportive social networks can mitigate LGBTI mental health risk, study finds

The Guardian, Thursday 9 February 2017 17.57 AEDT

Sexuality poses no risk to mental health, a new study has found, challenging a common perception that homosexual and bisexual people are at risk of poor mental health and suicide because of their orientation.

The research, carried out over eight years and led by the Australian National University, found that the risk commonly attributed to sexual orientation was driven by other factors, including negative social interactions, the absence of support, adversity in childhood such as sexual trauma, and even smoking.

• Read more of article here 
• Access the Personality & Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study website here
• Access abstract of journal paper The long-term mental health risk associated with non-heterosexual orientation here