"We need to take action"...

“Every year in this country, 300 kids take their own lives,” claims Rick Mercer, in a passionate and thought provoking segment on his show, The Rick Mercer Report that aired in October and then subsequently went viral on the web.  “And this past week one of those kids was Jamie Hubley. He was 15, he was depressed and he happened to be gay.”  The young man that Rick Mercer is referring to is Jamie Hubley of Ottawa, Ontario.  In mid-October, 15 year old Hubley, who was openly gay, took his own life after years of torment and abuse that he had suffered at the hands of his classmates.  His father said that his son had suffered from depression (CBCNews.ca, 2011).  Jamie’s story is a heartbreaking one that has received much publicity.  Unfortunately, his situation is not uncommon among teens, and he is certainly not the first to have taken such extreme measures to end his suffering.  Adolescence, as I’m sure most of us can recall, is an emotionally turbulent and confusing time in our lives.  We were sensitive to our environments and vulnerable to many societal influences, especially our peers and loved ones.   It only makes sense that a mental condition such as depression would perpetuate one’s need to isolate themselves when they don’t feel accepted by society or amongst their peers.  Depression is a common condition among teens, though it’s often brushed off as typical teenaged apathy or chaos.  It’s also important to acknowledge the link between depression and suicide. It’s been noted that 80% of all suicides are committed by people who are depressed (Canada.com, Body&Health,2011).  It is the leading cause of death among adolescents, and LGBTTQ* youth are more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers (Canada.com, Body&Health, 2011).  One research report indicates that LGBTTQ* teens are “are 3 times more likely to report a history of suicidality and more than twice as likely to report symptoms of depression than their heterosexual counterparts” (Medscape Medical News, 2011).  

Another study suggests that the link between suicidality and depression within LGBTTQ* populations is not only an issue for adolescents.  It concludes that suicidal thoughts and behaviours are also a risk for people in their mid-twenties and that there’s an association between suicidal ideation and disclosure of one’s LGBTTQ* identity to immediate family (Igartua, Gill,Montoro, 2003). 

Another study, which emphasizes the importance of sexual support and how it relates to mental health, suggests that high levels of sexual support results in decreased amounts of emotional distress (Doty, Willoughby, Lindahl, & Malik, 2010). The study also suggest that support for sexual stress for LGB youth was less available from family and heretosexual friends and more available from sexual minority friends. This is relevent because the need for support at a young and vulnerable age is especially important and contributes to the stablilty and well-being of an adolescent who is struggling with his or her identity, and as Mercer states in the video above, in order to estabish a support network for teens who are struggling with their sexual identities, members of the LGBTTQ* community should not be invisible anymore.

Unfortunately, for many young people, bullying and homophobia doesn’t stop after High School.  One particular study in the UK has found that is still an existing problem on university campuses.  It reported that more than half of LQBTTQ* students avoided or purposely concealed their identities out of fear of being negatively targeting or discriminated against (Ellis, 2009)

Depression is known to be a biological condition that is triggered by chemical imbalances in the brain, causing individuals to have feelings of guilt, hopelessness, and sadness, as well as reduced energy and motivation.  However, we cannot deny the fact that our environment has a huge impact on our mood and general well-being and when both a negative environment and a mood disorder become a combined issue for a person, their situation becomes much more complicated and difficult.  When these issues are placed on the shoulders of a teen who is dealing with the turmoil of adolescence, who may be experiencing bullying, and who is trying to come to terms with their own identities and wondering if they’ll still be accepted, one can only imagine the hell they’re going through.  We, as a society need to acknowledge it and take action. As Rick Mercer said, “It’s no longer good enough for us to tell kids that are different that it’s going to get better; we have to make it better NOW.”  No doubt.

-          Julia

References:

Adolescent Suicides, (2011), Canada.com, Body and Health, Retrieved Nov. 22^nd, 2011 from: http://bodyandhealth.canada.com/channel_condition_info_details.asp?disease_id=135&channel_id=9&relation_id=10860

Cassels, Caroline, (April 7^th,2011). ‘Striking’ risk for suicidality, depression in gay teens, Medscape Medical News, Psychiatry, Retrieved Nov. 22^nd,2011 from: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/740429

CBCNewStaff, (Oct 20, 2001). Gay Ottawa teen mourned at packed church. CBC News, CBC.ca Retrieved Nov. 22^nd,2011 from: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2011/10/20/ottawa-hubley-funeral.html

Doty, N.D.,Willoughby, B.L.B., Lindahl, K.M., & Malik, N.M. (2010). Sexuality related social support among lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39(10), 1134-1147.

Ellis, S.J. (2009). Diversity and inclusivity at university: a survey of the experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and trans (LGBT) students in the UK. Higher Education, 57(6), 723-39.

Igartua, K.J., Gill, K., Montoro, R. (2003). Internalized homophobia: a factor in depression, anxiety, and suicide in the gay and lesbian population. The Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health, Vol.22, Iss.2, Pg.15