SexualMinorityDepression (SMD) Simulation

SMD is a simulation software used for modelling the effects of stigmas faced by sexual minorities in the forms of both social and administral discrimination. In particular, it seeks to answer the questions regarding their relative effects (comparing individual and network forms of stigmatization) on depressive behaviors amongst the LGB community. In particular, we developed here an agent based model, concentrating on modelling concealment, depression, and policy passing.

The output of the model consists of the following:

  • Plots of the network after evolving over a specified length of time
  • Sensitivity plots of the percentage of depressed sexual minority members as functions of:
    • Policies (discriminatory/beneficial)
    • Supportive community
    • More/less LGB concentration

Note: The package uses Python 3, with the Numpy, NetworkX, and Matplotlib libraries.