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Mental Health: "Macho Culture" To Blame

Wed 3 Aug 2005 In: New Zealand Daily News

The New Zealand AIDS Foundation have commented on the Otago University study which revealed that young gay men have five times the mental health problems of young heterosexual men; saying our country's "macho culture" may be to blame. Spokesman Steve Attwood says the problems which face young gay people are a reflection of the marginalisation and persecution which has long been associated with New Zealand "macho culture", something which Attwood describes as "the sort of thing that Tamihere was talking about in his ‘not-interview interview'", referring to John Tamihere's criticism of his female, gay and lesbian colleagues. Attwood also suggests the research confirms that with mental health issues comes increased exposure to risks such as unsafe sex and exposure to HIV. The study surveyed almost 1000 Christchurch born young people. It showed statistics which confirmed what LGBT groups have speculated for years: that same-sex attraction in young people corresponds to a higher likelihood of depression, anxiety, drug and alcohol dependence, antisocial behaviour, suicidal thoughts and attempts. Research showed that young men of predominantly homosexual orientation had mental health problems five times higher than young heterosexual men, and that young lesbians had mental health problems at nearly twice the rate of young heterosexual females.    

Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff

First published: Wednesday, 3rd August 2005 - 12:00pm

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