Teach Solais closure a blow to LGBT teens

There is a dominant narrative, in Ireland and internationally, that a significant proportion of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex population experience mental health difficulties.

The findings of a study by GLEN (Gay and Lesbian Equality Network) back up the anecdotal evidence with hard statistics.

Across LGBT groups surveyed, between 12% and 35% of participants recorded scores indicating severe or extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress.

LGBT teenagers aged 14-18 were most impacted, followed by 19-25 year-olds.

Compared with other adolescents, teenagers who identified as LGBT were four times more likely to suffer severe or extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress.

The 14-18 year-old LGBT population also had lower self-esteem, and scored lower levels of happiness and satisfaction than their straight friends.

One in three of the LGBT population surveyed self-harmed; nearly half had done so within the previous 12 months, and almost 60% said self-harm was related to their sexual identity and struggle to be accepted by others and society. Rates of self-harm were higher (56%) for 14-18 year-olds, and three in every four of them had self-harmed in the previous year.

The stats varied depending on age of the LGBT survey participants, but almost 60% of the sample had seriously thought of ending their own life, with approximately 45% having thought of doing so within the past year. Some 60% reported that their suicidal thoughts were at least somewhat related to their LGBTI identity.

Of those who had seriously considered ending their own life, four in ten (39.9%) did not seek any help for the problems that led them to seriously consider ending their life.

More than one in five of the sample (21.4%) had seriously tried to take their own life. Approximately two-thirds (66.8%) reported that their suicide attempt(s) was at least somewhat related to being LGBT.

There are more stats in the GLEN study from 2018 that show that despite the many advances for the LGBT community in Ireland, the heteronormative worldview of society impacts on young LGBT people in particular. They’re more likely to be bullied in school, and misuse drugs and alcohol than their straight counterparts, for example.

The survey is important in the context of the closure of Teach Solais, the LGBT resource centre run by voluntary charity, Amach.

It was supported by the Maureen O’Connell fund, through Saint Vincent de Paul and by funds from Galway City Council, to get it open to the public in 2017. But after three years, it has closed because the Government won’t grant it annual, sustainable funding.

For just €90,000 a year, Teach Solais would provide health and wellbeing services at a drop-in centre, as well as an outreach service in County Galway, where rural isolation leading to mental health issues is a major issue.

In the long-run, sustainable funding makes sense  and will save lives and improve the lives of the LGBT community who suffer in silence. All that’s needed is political will.

For more Bradley Bytes, see this week's Galway City Tribune