New Study Finds “Coming Out” Can have Health Benefits

According to an April 11, 2012, Huffington Post article, a new study in the Journal of Homosexuality finds that parental support and acceptance when coming out provides long-term health benefits to LGB adults. Study co-author, Emily Rothman, PhD, noted, "Given the high rates of suicide and self-harm among lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) youth–and the high costs of treating mental-health and substance-abuse disorders—it’s critical that we understand what we can do to promote better health for LGB kids. The way that parents treat their LGB children when they come out is an important public health topic that has received too little attention to date."

Posted at GLMA. Reposted at http://www.keystothecloset.blogspot.com/

Family Acceptance Project

There is a new report from the family project that you may find helpful in educating your community about LGBTIQ Youth and suicides. See their website at http://familyproject.sfsu.edu/home

"The Family Acceptance Project™ is the only community research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to decrease major health and related risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth, such as suicide, substance abuse, HIV and homelessness – in the context of their families. We use a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, socially and religiously diverse families decrease rejection and increase support for their LGBT children.

Our team is putting research into practice by developing the first evidence-based family model of wellness, prevention and care to strengthen families and promote positive development and healthy futures for LGBT children and youth. Once developed, we will disseminate our model across the U.S. and to groups we work with in other countries."