The Challenging World of Dissocia

Yesterday I spoke with the flamboyant and talented Patrick Wolf (for next month’s Music section). Commenting on his intense dedication to his craft (he plays roughly 5,000 instruments) and extravagant performances he stated that his drive to succeed stemmed from always feeling like an outsider. In this issue’s interview the thrillingly ornate David Hoyle speaks of a similar perception; the notion of belonging to a community of any description was, simply, for other people. Both of these artists encouragingly suggest that this sense of being different is what drives them to succeed, and Hoyle in particular suggests a cosy life of conformity is something which has never appealed to him.

I’m guessing it’s a safe bet that almost everybody experiences dissociation in their lives but these two highlighted the fact that being hectored in their youth regarding their sexuality was a major factor in engendering this sentiment. OK, so they now make a career out of ‘being different’, but the psychological fallout of being targeted for being ‘otherwise’ resonates, and was certainly 'no picnic' for either. Little is officially known of the mental health of the LGBT community in the UK, as health authorities don’t record the sexuality of its users. The suggestion is that anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal feelings are more common among LGBT people than among heterosexual people. If, as likely, this is true, then it comes as a shock to find that Edinburgh plays host to the only LGBT Healthy Living Centre in the UK. That can’t be good enough, can it?