Feature Article

    LGBTQ Suicide: Recent Findings

Countless stories of young people taking their lives as a result of rejection, intimidation, and lack of a personal support system fill the pages of recent media. We know that youth in general have high rates of suicide but add to the scenario LGBTQ youth and the statistics increase significantly.

An excellent research article from the Journal of Homosexuality sheds light on findings of suicide and suicide risk in the LGBT population. It can be viewed at:

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/00918369.2011.534038

Additional information suggesting things can can ultimately contribute to LGBTQ youth taking their lives can be found in the 2009 National School Climate Survey as found at:


http://www.glsen.org/binary-data/GLSEN_ATTACHMENTS/file/000/001/1675-2.pdf

And finally, there is an excellent article from the recent New Yorker magazine (free and online) about the young college student Tyler Clement who identified as gay, and who took his own life. It can be found at:


http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2012/02/06/120206fa_fact_parker

In this day of information exchange there is no reason not to be informed about the high rates of LGBTQ suicide, risk factors, and things we all can do to help decrease the risk factors and provide greater support to our LGBTQ family. Please take note of the following resources and help spread the word.

The Trevor Project >>> http://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Locally, there will be a one day workshop on Suicide Prevention (March 1) hosted by the Tennessee Suicide Prevention Network >>> http://tspn.org/ and the Tennessee Commission on Children & Youth. To register, email Diane.Wise@tn.gov