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Suicidal Behavior Among LGBT Youth

Data based upon AAS Fact Sheet and the SPRC LGBT Youth. Suicidal Behavior Among LGBT Youth. Why the focus on LGBT Youth. Because of the media focus recently on suicide in this community, the vast majority of research on LGBT suicide has been among youth.

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Suicidal Behavior Among LGBT Youth

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  1. Data based upon AAS Fact Sheet and the SPRC LGBT Youth Suicidal Behavior Among LGBT Youth

  2. Why the focus on LGBT Youth • Because of the media focus recently on suicide in this community, the vast majority of research on LGBT suicide has been among youth. • This is not to say that other age groups are not at risk • These findings may or may not generalize to other age groups

  3. Suicide Attempts and LGB Status • Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, and those who are unsure of their sexual orientation, attempt suicide 3.4 times more than their peers (Garafalo et al., 1999) • More recent study shows LGB high school students more than twice as likely to have previous suicide attempts (Eisenberg & Resnick, 2006) • Sexual orientation is not indicated on death certificates, so little is known about sexual orientation and death by suicide

  4. Transgender Individuals and Suicide • 83 % of transgender individuals (not just youth) have thought of suicide and 54% have attempted suicide (Dean et al., 2000) • 30.1% of transgender individuals report having ever attempted suicide (Kenagy, 2005), compared to 4.6% of adults in the US (Kessler et al., 1999) • Risk factors for suicide attempts include age (under 25), depression, history of substance abuse, and gender-based discrimination of victimization (Clements-Nolle, Marx, & Katz, 2006)

  5. LGBT Suicide Risk Factors • Being LGBT is not in itself a risk factor, but the minority stressors that LGBT individuals encounter are risk factors • Strongest risk factor: suicide attempts. • LBT youth have higher rates of depression, anxiety, conduct disorder, and psychiatric disorders than their peers (Fergusson et al., 1999) • More than 75% of LGB youth report verbal abuse, and roughly 1/7 report physicial attacks (D’Augelli 2002)

  6. Protective Factors • Family acceptance is important. LGB youth who were rejected were more than 8 times more likely to report a prior suicide attempt (Ryan et al., 2009) • Being connected with family as well as with adults in the community and school are protective factors (Eisenberg & Resnick, 2004)

  7. What can be done? SPRC (2008) Recommendations • Provide information about LGBT youth suicidal behavior to care staff, gatekeepers, crisis line staff, etc. • Include this information in school public awareness materials • Identify LGBT-inclusive services and providers for referrals • Include LGBT youth in program development and evaluation • Develop peer-based support groups • Implement life skills training to reduce stress and discrimination • Support parents or guardians of LGBT youth • Emphasize protective factors relevant to LGBT youth

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