Suicidal Behavior among LGBT Youth

Suicidal Behavior among LGBT Youth

 

 

Many studies have found that LGBT youth attempt suicide more 

frequently than straight peers. Garafalo et al. (1999) found that LGB high school students

and students unsure of

their sexual orientation were 3.4 times more likely to have attempted suicide in the last

year than their straight peers. Eisenberg and Resnick (2006) found LGB high school

students were more than twice as likely as their straight p

eers to have attempted suicide.

Safren and Heimberg found that among youth who had attempted suicide, almost twice as

many LGB you as their straight peers said that they had really hoped to die

.

Little research has been done about transgender individuals

, but in one study of adults

and young adults 30.1 percent of transgender individuals surveyed reported having ever

attempted suicide (Kenagy, 2005). For US adults overall, 4.6 percent of adults and young

adults report having ever attempted (Kessler et al

., 1999)

Numerous studies confirm that LGB youth have higher rates of suicidal ideation than

their straight peers; for example, the Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey found

that youth who self

-

identified as LGB or reported any same

-

sex sexual contac

t were more

than three times more likely to report having seriously considered suicide in the last year

(Massachusetts Department of Education, 2006)

Because no reliable data exists, we do not know whether LGBT youth die by suicide

more frequently than th

eir straight peers. Sexual orientation and gender identity data are

not included on death certificates so aggregated national death data do not include this

information. In addition, many LGBT youth do not disclose this information to family

members and

friends; as a result, sexual orientation and gender identity often do not show

up in psychological autopsy interviews

Risk and Protective Factors among LGBT Youth

2

Suicidal Behavior

a

mong Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Fact Sheet

While LGBT youth think about and attempt suicide more often than their straight counterparts

,

most LGBT youth do not attempt suicide. LGBT youth have many of the same risk factors as

straight youth, but many LGBT have more or more severe risk factors. It is important to note

that being LGBT is not a risk factor in and of itself; however, the mi

nority stressors that LGBT

individuals encounter

–

such as discrimination and harassment

–

are directly associated with

suicidal behavior as well as indirectly with risk factors for suicide.

The strongest risk factor for suicide death is previous attempts,

and LGB youth attempt

more frequently than non

-

LGB youth (see above).

Most people who die by suicide have mental illness and/or a substance use disorder.

Fergusson et al. (1999) found that LGB youth showed higher rates of major depression,

anxiety disor

der, conduct disorder, and co

-

occurring psychiatric disorders than their

straight peers.

D’Augelli (2002) found high rates of victimization among LGB youth from community

settings: more than three quarters reported verbal abuse and about one in seven repo

rted

physical attacks, and victimized youth reported more mental health problems

Ryan et al. (2009) found that family acceptance was important for LGB youth, in fact

LGB youth who experienced severe family rejection were more than 8 times more likely

to

report having attempted suicide compared with peers from families with little or no

rejection.

Eisenberg and Resnick (2004) found that family connectedness, caring adults, and school

safety serve as protective factors from suicide for LGB individuals.

Im

plications for Suicide Prevention

Because much of the risk for suicidal behavior among LGBT youth stems from the social

and cultural environment, a cultural competence approach is recommended by many.

Youth workers who understand and help address the stre

ssors that the LGBT youth

minority face can be most effective. See

http://www.hrc.org/issues/cultural

-

competence.htm

SPRC recommends that youth

-

serving agencies

o

Implement in

-

service staff

training about the issues faced by LGBT youth,

particularly the higher rate of suicidal behavior, victimization, and family

rejection and recognition and response to warning signs for suicide.

3

Suicidal Behavior

a

mong Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Fact Sheet

o

Establish policies and protocols for appropriate response to s

uicide attempts, self

-

injury, and suicides

o

Institute non

-

discrimination policies that extend equal rights to all sexual

orientations and gender identities (SPRC, 2008).

Important Resources for Suicide Prevention

American Association of Suicidology Warnin

g Signs of Suicide

http://www.suicidology.org/web/guest/stats

-

and

-

tools/suicide

-

warning

-

signs

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a free, 24

-

hour hotline available

to anyone in suicidal

crisis or distress. Call 1

-

800

-

273

-

TALK (8255). Learn more at

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org

American Association of Suicidology Risk Factors for Suicide and Fact She

ets

http://www.sucidology.org/web/guest/stats

-

and

-

tools/fact

-

sheets

The

Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide

prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.

http://www.thetrevorproject.org