Fridae

Gay and bisexual men are at greater risk of suicide attempts, and homophobia may be largely to blame, according to a new study. Risk factors included being gay or bisexual in a hostile environment.

Dr. Jay P. Paul of the University of California in San Francisco and colleagues used data from the Urban Men's Health Study, a sample of 2,881 MSM in urban areas who were interviewed between November 1996 and February 1998. The MSM had either had sex with another man since age 14 or they self-identified as gay or bisexual.

Researchers used three factors to determine suicide risk -- sadness or depression for a week or longer, having ever made a suicide plan and having ever attempted suicide.

More than one in five men reported having made a suicide plan. Twelve percent of the sample reported suicide attempts, and 45 percent of those who had attempted suicide had done so more than once.

"These rates suggest that US gay and bisexual males have more than a 3-fold increased risk of ever attempting suicide in comparison with their heterosexual male counterparts," according to the study authors.

Men with less education were more likely to report suicidal plans and attempts, as were men with lower annual income and less than full time employment. Native Americans, bisexuals and non-identifying MSM were found to have the highest prevalence of suicide.

Men with HIV were significantly more likely to have a suicide plan but were not more likely to have attempted suicide. Seventeen percent of the samples were HIV-positive, while 72 percent were negative and 11 percent had never been tested.

"This study provides further epidemiological evidence that gay and bisexual males -- particularly younger gay and bisexual males -- constitute a high-risk group for attempted suicide." Although they found lower rates of risk than other studies, it remained significant and, "the seriousness of this health concern remains".

Findings were published in the August 1 issue of the American Journal of Public Health.