Legalising same-sex marriage in Australia wouldn’t just benefit couples wanting to wed, it could help save lives, new research out of the US has shown.
It’s a long-held belief that stigma and social exclusion have a direct impact on the wellbeing of people within the LGBTI community, according to the Black Dog Institute.
A study published this week backs up this belief and shows that creating a more inclusive society for young people to live in could improve their mental health and happiness.
Listen: Senator Penny Wong talks about same sex marriage.
The study compared suicide attempt rates across public high schools in the 32 US states that allow same-sex marriage, before and after it was legalised.
Researchers measured a significant difference in the number of suicide attempts when marriage equality was introduced. It found seven percent fewer students reported a suicide attempt.
Black Dog Institute senior researcher Dr Fiona Shand said the findings of the study, which collected data from 750,000 adolescents, was solid data that legalising same-sex marriage equality would reduce suicide.
Top Comments
Absolutely. There is SO much evidence to show how beneficial marriage is to the individual, the couple, their children, their personal wealth....and it translate to those of same-sex marriage. Legalising it would have nothing but positive social benefits. And the world did not end in NZ, USA, Ireland etc....we should be okay.
What about the countries where same - sex marriage has created a backlash against the LGBTQ+ community? Like in Brazil?
http://www.thedailybeast.co...
The article indicates the backlash has predominantly been the result of the rise to power of the evangelical Christian right.