Report: Gay Youth Face Serious Health Challenges

MEDIA RELEASE: 19 OCTOBER 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Report Shows Gay Youth Face Serious Health Challenges

A report by the University of Auckland, to be released tomorrow, says that in the past 12 months more than a third of same/both-sex attracted secondary school students had seriously thought about attempting suicide and around half had deliberately harmed themselves. The report, lead by Dr Simon Denny of the Adolescent Health Research Group at the University of Auckland, also shows elevated rates of alcohol and drug use, STIs and mental ill-health among same/both- sex attracted students in comparison to their opposite-sex attracted counterparts.

The full report will be released tomorrow at the launch of the Results for Young People Attracted to Both Sexes, an analysis of the data from Youth 07: The Health and Wellbeing Secondary School Students in New Zealand; a study in which 8,002 secondary school students responded to questions on sexual attraction, health and wellbeing.

Dr Kathleen Quinlivan, a Senior Lecturer in the College of Education at the University of Canterbury, says “this report sends a clear message to schools and communities that they need to start involving queer youth to learn from them about addressing prejudice and discrimination.”

The report also shows several notable improvements such as decreased rates of smoking and rewarding friendships with peers compared to the results of the same survey in 2000. However OUT THERE!, the queer youth development project which commissioned the report, has called for greater acknowledgement and support of same-sex attracted students in school environments to tackle the alarming health disparities.

Nathan Brown, a spokesperson for youth at the New Zealand AIDS Foundation (NZAF), states “the improvements are wonderful. However it’s very clear that the rates of bullying and isolation that same-sex attracted youth reported have real and serious consequences for these young people. But by addressing the issues affecting same-sex attracted young people schools will improve learning outcomes for all students by teaching how to succeed in a diverse society.”

Dr Quinlivan states “Queer youth organisations are doing amazing work to promote diversity and difference. These young people are leading the way and schools need to learn from what they’re doing and take their ideas on board.” Dr Denny, Dr Quinlivan and Thomas Hamilton from Rainbow Youth will present the findings of the report tomorrow from 2.30pm - 4.30pm in Room 220, School of Population Health, Building 730, Tamaki Campus, the University of Auckland at 261 Morrin Rd, Glen Innes.

ENDS

© Scoop Media