Could They Not Keep It To Themselves?

Could They Not Keep It To Themselves?

This is a common question that we hear from parents. The best answer to this is another question – “Who would this help?”

Keeping such a secret to oneself can be detrimental to one’s mental and physical well-being. LGTB+ youth are three times more likely to attempt suicide and two times more likely to self-harm than their counterparts. Many of them drift into substance abuse or risky sexual behaviour. Anorexia and bulimia are other consequences of the increased stress of being an unhappy gay or bisexual child. The difficulties which some children experience in talking openly about their sexuality to anyone can leave them very isolated and depressed.

Given the discrimination LGBTI+ young people can suffer, simply because of who they are, try and remember the courage your child showed by ‘coming out’ to you.