Attitude magazine tackles mental health issues in gay men

The latest edition of Attitude, the UK's best-selling gay magazine, is focusing on the sensitive – and often taboo – issue of mental health problems in gay men.

The "Issues Issue" addresses the "alarming" high rates of depression, suicide, anxiety and addiction in gay men, and provides "concrete reasons" for why some may suffer from these things and what they can do about them.

Attitude's editor, Matthew Todd said: "It's not just treading over old ground. We've taken advice from the world's leading gay psychologists and I think we have some real, solid answers about what causes the increased levels of anxiety, depression and self-destructive behaviour in many of us, including myself, as I say in the issue – and how those of us who do feel that way can do something about it.

"I'm hoping this will be the first step towards discussing this openly. I'm especially pleased that people can now download Attitude onto their iphones or ipads because we know some people are anxious about buying gay magazines in shops."

The findings presented in the magazine are backed up by research which shows that gay men suffer a disproportionate amount of mental health problems – certainly more than their straight brethren.