NATIONAL-LESBIAN-HEALTH-CARE-SURVEY - IMPLICATIONS FOR MENTAL-HEALTH-CARE

This ar-ticle presents demographic, lifestyle, and mental health infor mation about 1,925 lesbians from all 50 states who participated as res pondents in the National Lesbian Health Care Survey (1984-1985), the m ost comprehensive study on U.S. lesbians to date. Over half the sample had had thoughts about suicide at some time, and 18% had attempted su icide. Thirty-seven percent had been physically abused as a child or a dult, 32% had been raped or sexually attacked, and 19% had been involv ed in incestuous relationships while growing up. Almost one third used tobacco on a daily basis, and about 30% drank alcohol more than once a week, 6% daily. About three fourths had received counseling at some time, and half had done so for reasons of sadness and depression. Lesb ians in the survey also were socially connected and had a variety of s ocial supports, mostly within the lesbian community. However, few had come out to all family members and coworkers. Level of openness about lesbianism was associated with less fear of exposure and with more cho ices about mental health counseling.