Study: 25% of
young gay men in Northern Ireland have attempted suicide

A mental health study released Tuesday in Northern Ireland reveals some alarming statistics about young gay men. According to the research, almost two thirds of gay or bisexual men in Northern Ireland have considered suicide--and a quarter of them have actually attempted it. The study, conducted by the Rainbow Project, a health advocacy group for the country's gay and bisexual men, also found that more than 30% of the subjects were at one point diagnosed as having a mental illness. The findings are based on three years of research on almost 200 gay men age 25 or younger. The report, titled "Out on Your Own," reads, "The needs of this population must be included in the strategic planning of organizations that work with young people." A discussion of the findings is scheduled for Wednesday, led by the head of the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland. (Sirius OutQ News)