Lesbian, “gay,” bisexual Canadians report higher rates of mental health illness.

A recent Canadian study published in the “American Journal of Public Health” come from more than 220,000 Canadians who participated in the Canadian Community Health Survey between 2007 and 2012. The study found that gay and lesbian Canadians reported about twice the rates of anxiety and mood disorders compared to heterosexual Canadians:

“Bisexual respondents had greater odds of reporting anxiety disorders, mood disorders, anxiety–mood disorders, and heavy drinking. Gay or lesbian and bisexual respondents had greater odds than heterosexuals of reporting co-occurring anxiety or mood disorders and heavy drinking. The highest rates of disorders were observed among bisexual respondents, with nearly quadruple the rates of anxiety, mood, and combined anxiety and mood disorders relative to heterosexuals and approximately twice the rates of gay or lesbian respondents.”

Basia Pakula, Jean Shoveller, Pamela A. Ratner, Richard Carpiano. “Prevalence and Co-Occurrence of Heavy Drinking and Anxiety and Mood Disorders Among Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Heterosexual Canadians.” American Journal of Public Health, 2016.