Lesbians, gays, bisexuals more susceptible to mental health issues, substance abuse

September 11th, 2009 Soap opera gets Latinos in tune with health careDENVER — It has all the hallmarks of the beloved telenovela. But this soap opera's story lines are laced with important medical advice for Colorado's Latinos.

September 8th, 2009 LONDON - Jailed rape suspect Jack Tweed has been on suicide watch after reportedly telling doctors, "If I had a gun I'd kill myself." Jade Goody's widower, who is allegedly being kept in segregation, was said to have received a string of abuse and threats from other inmates at Pentonville jail in London. "He has been put on an unusually tight watch and has to be checked on every 20 minutes which is virtually unheard of," the Mirror quoted an insider as saying.

September 4th, 2009 Complications increase in Spector imprisonmentLOS ANGELES — The planned transfer of Phil Spector to a different prison has been halted, a corrections official said Friday, but different reasons were given as complications continued to surround his incarceration. Spector, 69, a legendary music producer, is serving 19 years to life for the murder of actress Lana Clarkson.

September 1st, 2009 Phil Spector being moved to different prisonLOS ANGELES — Music legend and convicted murderer Phil Spector, who complained recently about his prison quarters but later said he wanted to stay put, is being moved to make room for inmates requiring outpatient mental health treatment, a corrections spokeswoman said Tuesday. "It's not about Spector.

August 12th, 2009 LONDON - Harry Porter actor Daniel Radcliffe has donated a large sum of money to help suicidal lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders (LGBTs), after he found the figures "extremely distressing". The 20-year-old star has given the money to The Trevor Project, an American helpline for the LGBTs and 'Questioning' teenagers.

August 4th, 2009 WASHINGTON - A school-based program that talks about healthy relationships can significantly reduce adolescent dating violence, according to researchers. The program known as the 'Fourth R: Skills for Youth Relationships', for ninth-grade curriculum can also increase condom use two and a half years later.

July 4th, 2009 Jackson kids face hurdles to coping with his deathCHICAGO — No matter how unusual their lives may have been so far, Michael Jackson's children now face a universal trauma felt by all kids who suddenly lose a parent. How the three young Jacksons fare is up to the remaining adults in their lives and whether they can create a sense of stability and security for the grieving youngsters, mental health experts say.

July 3rd, 2009 NEW YORK - Singapore-born singer/model Tila Tequila has in an open letter to US President Barack Obama urged him to allow gays to openly serve in the military. Tequila, 27, in a blog at globalgrind.com, tells the story of Dan Choi, "a hero to many of us in the human rights movement" who was booted from the Army after publicly announcing he's gay.

June 27th, 2009 LONDON - Michael Jackson was reportedly in constant fear about his mounting debts and worried about his comeback concerts in London, telling friends: "If I don't tour they'll kill me." The King Of Pop's increased drug dependency was said to have begun taking its toll on the singer's mental and physical health days before he died on Thursday. Jackson, who was almost bankrupt at the time of his death, was claimed to have suffered further exhaustion stemming from rehearsals for his 50 show concerts, which were due to begin at O2 arena on July 13.

June 12th, 2009 Chastity Bono announces sex changeLOS ANGELES — Chastity Bono is having a sex change to become a man. A spokesman for Bono, born a girl to Sonny and Cher, says he "has made the courageous decision to honor his true identity" and began the sex-change process earlier this year.

June 10th, 2009 LONDON - Whitney Houston has shot down reports suggesting that she has banned journalists from discussing her drug issues during promotional chats for her upcoming album. The R and B star, who struggled for years with crack cocaine addiction and finally succeeded in kicking it, is preparing to launch her chart comeback clean and sober, reports The Daily Express.

June 5th, 2009 Susan Boyle released from mental health clinicLONDON — The brother of talent-show contestant Susan Boyle says the singer has left a mental health care facility and is doing better. Gerry Boyle told GMTV Friday that his sister had been released from the London clinic.

June 5th, 2009 WASHINGTON - People who squirm when confronted with slime, can't stand the sight of blood, and become pale when see dead bodies are more likely to be a conservative than their less-squeamish counterparts, according to two Cornell studies. Study leader David Pizarro, Cornell assistant professor of Psychology, says that persons who shudder at such things most likely tend to be conservative politically, especially in their attitudes toward gays and lesbians.

June 3rd, 2009 LONDON - Susan Boyle, who was recently reported to have landed in a rehab clinic following an emotional breakdown, may not perform in the national Britain's Got Talent arena tour. The 48-year-old, who faced a crushing defeat at the show's finals after having been the red hot favourite to bag the title, had been allegedly rushed to the Priory clinic, North London after she passed out following an emotional rant against the show bosses.

May 12th, 2009 Helping kids is giving Goldie Hawn purposeWASHINGTON — These days, Goldie Hawn is more interested in helping children than making movies. Hawn hasn't released a film since "The Banger Sisters" in 2002.