This report has been prepared by Prof. Agnes Higgins, TCD. The report addresses the relationship between self-reported disabilities and mental distress within the LGBTQI+ population in Ireland. It draws on data from the 2022 national online survey ‘Being LGBTQI+ in Ireland’. The report sets out to outline the prevalence of disabilities within the LGBTQI+ community; examine the relationship between reported disabilities and mental distress indicators in this group; and to present commentary made in the survey related to disabilities and LGBTQI+ identities.

Table 3.4: Lifetime prevalence of suicidal behaviours, point prevalence of symptoms of severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress and point prevalence of low self-esteem and alcohol problems for those with and without seven long-standing conditions

P.38 ..While alcohol problems were not associated significantly with any of the disabilities, it is interesting that those with a pain/breathing/chronic illness difficulty to a great extent were at reduced risk of alcohol use, a finding that is hard to explain...

Table 3.5: Association between six long-standing conditions or difficulties and lifetime prevalence of suicidal behaviours, point prevalence of severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress and point prevalence of low self-esteem and alcohol problems

P.40 ..Participants with five disabilities reported the highest prevalence of suicidal thoughts, self-harm and attempted suicide and of symptoms of severe/extremely severe anxiety and depression. A different pattern was evident for alcohol problems whereby the prevalence was highest for those reporting no disability and, in general, risk of alcohol problems was less common among those with an increasing number of disabilities... The pattern of increasing number of disabilities being associated with increasing risk of poor mental health-related outcomes was not observed for alcohol problems. A different pattern was evident whereby the prevalence was highest for those reporting no disability and, in general, risk of alcohol problems was less common among those with an increasing number of disabilities...

Table 3.6: Lifetime prevalence of suicidal behaviours, point prevalence of symptoms of severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress and point prevalence of low self-esteem and alcohol problems by number of disabilities reported.

Figure 3.2: Lifetime prevalence of suicidal behaviours, point prevalence of symptoms of severe/extremely severe depression, anxiety and stress and point prevalence of low self-esteem and alcohol problems by number of disabilities reported.