Mental health literacy in rural areas could reduce homophobia-linked suicides

May 23 2005

With male suicide rates in rural areas of Australia seven times higher than in metropolitan areas, a researcher is exploring the issue of compromised mental health associated with bullying.

Doctoral candidate Brian Sengstock, from Central Queensland University, is examining issues associated with sex-based harassment of adolescent males.

“The high rate of male suicide in rural areas is in part due to the level of mental health literacy in rural communities,” he said.

“While schools are required by legislation to ensure they provide a safe and healthy workplace, this is not the experience of a significant number of students.

“Presently there is a significant push towards school health promotion from a physical health perspective, with a lesser emphasis on mental health literacy.” Mr Sengstock said sex-based harassment in schools had far-reaching and long-lasting effects upon the mental and physical health of adolescent males.

“The contemporary use of homophobic language is not just directed at individuals who identify as being same-sex attracted; it is directed at any male student who steps outside the accepted bounds of hegemonic masculinity.

“Essentially, male adolescents view homophobia as a regulatory tool in the construction and maintenance of masculinity.

“However, for some adolescent males, this causes schools to become ‘killing fields of stigma’… the constant association of the word ‘gay’ with negative feelings can lead to depression and ideas of suicide.”