Beyondblue and other mental health groups say Australia's Christian leaders should be doing more to reduce high rates of suicide and self-harm among gay and lesbian parishioners, and criticised attempts to ''cure'' homosexuals.

The national depression agency's chief executive, Kate Carnell, wants churches to take responsibility for the damage caused when gay members are rejected or encouraged to undergo ''conversion'' programs.

''It's incumbent on churches not only to not discriminate but to support people who are doing it tough in their communities,'' she said. ''We know that discrimination is a major contributing factor to mental health issues in the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and intersex community, so if their own belief structure is also being undermined by their church and they're being excluded on the basis of their sexuality, it's a double whammy.''

It comes after Fairfax Media last week reported on growing concern about ''gay religious suicide'' following the death of Damien Christie, a homosexual man who was rejected by his Pentecostal church and took his life.

Friends say the 43-year-old never recovered from being told his sexuality was a ''sickness'' that could be cured during ''gay conversion'' therapy at a Melbourne Christian ministry.