All of the above. Compared to both the general population and heterosexual men, gay men report higher rates of illegal drug use and are more likely to suffer from anxiety and/or depression. Although the reasons for this have not been clearly established, they are likely multiple, and certainly growing up in a heterosexist society plays a major role. If you are struggling with drug use or suffering from depression or anxiety, you are not alone. Reach out to your healthcare provider.

True. Research has shown that gay and bisexual men are more likely to suffer from body image dissatisfaction and have an eating disorder compared to straight men. In fact, in a recent survey of gay guys in Ottawa, 31% reported being somewhat dissatisfied or dissatisfied with their body. It’s easy to set unrealistic standards for yourself when we are constantly bombarded with images of perfectly sculpted, chiseled bodies. If you fear you may be suffering from an eating disorder, reach out to your healthcare provider.

Nicotine and Alcohol. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse, tobacco and alcohol are the most taxing drugs for our health care system. In 2002, it was estimated that over $4 million in health care costs were attributed directly to tobacco, over $3 million were attributed directly to alcohol, and over $1 million were attributed directly to all illegal drugs combined.

1973. Homosexuality was officially removed as a mental illness from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, version DSM-III, in 1973.

Get enough sleep. Getting enough sleep is one of the best things you can do for your mental and physical health. Even light or moderate sleep deprivation can impact your mood, memory, concentration, and motor responses (among other things), as well as make you unaware of how much your sleep deprivation is actually affecting you. Proper sleep, on the other hand, can improve your mood, enhance your mental function, and increase your sex drive!

True. The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health states that people who struggle with mental health challenges “are twice as likely to have a substance abuse problem than the general population”. According to their statistics, at least 20% of people with an unaddressed mental illness are also suffering from addiction. If you feel like you may be suffering from symptoms of a mental illness or addiction, reach out to your healthcare provider.

Depression. There is a very strong relationship between depression and sleep. Most people who are depressed report having trouble falling or staying asleep, and many people who have trouble falling or staying asleep develop symptoms of depression. Fortunately, both of these can be treated and improvements in one usually lead to improvements in the other.

All of the above. There are numerous ways to reduce your risk of harm when using drugs, such as using in a safe space with someone you trust, getting your drugs from a trusted source, testing them in small quantities before using, getting trained to use naloxone, and more. You should always tell someone you trust if you plan on using drugs in case you suffer any adverse effects.

All of the above. There are numerous ways to reduce your risk of harm when using drugs, such as using in a safe space with someone you trust, getting your drugs from a trusted source, testing them in small quantities before using, getting trained to use naloxone, and more. You should always tell someone you trust if you plan on using drugs in case you suffer any adverse effects.

False. In a recent survey of gay guys in Ottawa, 24% reported having sex made them feel anxious at least half the time. Guys may feel anxious about sex because they are worried about transmitting or acquiring HIV or other infections, they are self-conscious about their body image, or they worry about how they are performing or being perceived by their sexual partner or partners. If sex is making you anxious, talk to someone.

False. Feelings of depression and anxiety are common, probably more common that you think. In a recent survey of gay guys in Ottawa, 13% scored as depressed and 17% scored as anxious using a validated screening questionnaire, and nearly a third indicated they had been diagnosed with depression or anxiety at some point in their life. Feeling depressed or anxious does not mean you are screwed up or weak. Many of us go through tough times, and we don’t need to suffer alone. Reach out to someone, and talk to your healthcare provider.