Mind Australia, a leading national mental health service has issued a warning against the proposed marriage equality plebiscite, claiming the risk of significant damage to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) community is too high. 

According to Mind Chief Executive Dr Gerry Naughtin, the campaigns in the lead up to a plebiscite could have a negative and destructive impact on LGBTI Australians, especially young people and their families, some of whom are already grappling with mental health issues. 

“Stigma around sexuality and gender identity and related exclusion are existing drivers for poor mental health. “We are extremely concerned that this situation will worsen dramatically in the context of the negative public campaigning that is likely to occur if we go down the path of a plebiscite,” Dr Naughtin said. 

Stigma around sexuality and gender identity and related exclusion are existing drivers for poor mental health.

LGBTI people have the highest rates of suicidality of any population in Australia. An Australian survey of gender variant and sexually diverse young people found that almost two thirds had experienced homophobia or transphobia, and that more than two in five young people interviewed had had thoughts of self-harm (41%) and/or suicide (42%). (Robinson et al., 2014) 

There is strong evidence from other countries that legislating for marriage equality following a public decision-making mechanism had a negative effect. 

In the last few weeks Dr Grainne Healy, who led the ‘yes’ campaign in the Irish plebiscite, wrote to Australian politicians warning them of the mental health risks of this approach. 

Dr Naughtin stated, “Mind works with a diverse range of people from the LGBTI community and has a good understanding of the triggers contributing to mental ill-health. Discrimination is a major factor due to the stress and isolation it causes. 

“It’s not too late for marriage equality to be legislated and for the significant funds that would be spent on a plebiscite redirected to help underrepresented communities, particularly young people with mental ill-health,” Dr Naughtin said.

If this article raises concerns for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders can also call 13 YARN (13 92 76) a 24/7 national crisis support telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

If you would like more information about Mind services near you, please contact us via Mind Connect or phone: 1300 286 463.