Mental Health and Suicidality Among LGBTQA+ People in Australia: Findings from Two Studies

In this course, Dr Adam Hill, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health, and Society, shares a wealth of findings from two studies of LGBTQA+ respondents to surveys: Private Lives 3 (6835 adult respondents) and Writing Themselves in 4 (6418 respondents aged 14-21). Presenting results broken down in multiple ways, Hill outlines alarming statistics illustrating the high rate of psychological distress, suicidal ideation, and suicide attempt in the LGBTQA+ population, notwithstanding the legal recognition of gender-diverse individuals in 2013 and the Marriage Equality for Australia Act of 2017; “rights” are not realities. Hill discusses the impacts on health and wellbeing of such individuals when accessing mental health and support services, what the risk and protective factors are, and how we can effect change, including through LGBTQA+-inclusive practices.