| If
you are thinking about suicide, please
take a look at this site first Young
gay men and lesbians are particularly at risk from suicide, possibly because of
the discrimination they face in our society. Homophobic bullying at school can
lead LGBT youngsters to devalue themselves which can lead to depression and other
forms of mental distress. It can result in a person feeling they do not want to
live in a world so full of hate. It's
OK to be gay
Nobody
can tell you whether you are gay or straight; only you can come to that decision.
Adolescence is a time when body changes and a surge of sexual hormones lead to
an increased awareness of sexual identity. It is a time when young people experiment
often with members of the same sex. Playing around with same sex friends doesn't
mean that you are gay. Having a crush on the captain of the football or hockey
team are not uncommon and doesn't necessarily indicate that you are gay. Some
people believe they were born gay and have experienced no problems with accepting
their sexuality. Others only discover their true sexual identity later in life.
There are those whose orientation changes or who are attracted to both sexes.
The important thing is to know that is all right to be just the way you are. Prejudice
It
is easy to say that it is all right to be gay but it might be so easy when you
are directly faced by hostility, prejudice and discrimination. This could be compounded
by the culture or religion in which you have been brought up. Below are some suggestions
of resources including links to gay religious groups that may provide the necessary
reassurance to realise that you are not alone and that being the way you are doesn't
make you a bad person. Talk
to someone
If
you are a young gay person or someone who is unhappy or confused about your sexual
identity try to find someone you can trust to talk to. If you don't feel that
there is anyone you can trust, you can call one of the help lines below where
you will be able to talk to someone in complete confidence. Suicidal
thoughts and threats should always be taken seriously. Amongst the links below
there are sites that could be useful, including some created by parents and friends
who have lost a loved one through suicide.
Help
and Advice |  |
Help
LinesSamaritans
National Help Line: 08457 90 90 90 open 24 hours London
Lesbian & Gay Switchboard: 020 783 77324 open 24 hours (Keep trying if
the line is engaged) Eddie
Surman Trust offers support to young people especially those who are HIV+
and may feel suicidal. PositiveLine for newly diagnosed HIV+ who may be feeling
low 0800 1696 806 open Mon to Fri 11.00 - 10.00pm Sat & Sun 4.00 - 10.00pm On-line
resources
Youth
Sucide Problems Australian based site on gay and bisexual youth suicide problems.
Internet Resource on gay and bisexual male suicide problems, related issues, and
a little known concept related to youth suicide. Contains research papers, press
articles and many useful links Scott
Bidstrup's Pages - Resources for the parents of gay, lesbian, bisexual and
transgendered youth
Darren's
Boyfriend's Suicide/Gay Info Web page A moving personal tribute from an Irish
boy with a message of hope - not updated since 1999 so many of the links don't
work
Youth-Guard
A mother's page devoted to the memory of her son with links to other support pages Metanoia.org
USA Website of organisation whose mission is to break down barriers that keep
people from getting the help they need. Has a first rate page for anyone thinking
about suicide
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