Being LGBTQ alone does not put a young person at higher risk for suicide, according to NYC Health.
It said the discrimination, rejection, fear, and harassment that may come with being LGBTQ in an unsupportive environment are what increase the risk.
“We want young LGBTQ people to know they are not alone, and the adults in their lives to know when and how to best support them,” NYC Health said.
It said suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24-year-olds in New York City.
“When young people die by suicide, it can be hard to understand,” NYC Health said. “We are often left wondering what happened or what we as adults could have done to help.
“We sometimes forget how hard adolescence is, and do not always know whether a young person is experiencing a crisis or simply going through typical changes,” it added.
NYC Health said there are many risk factors that contribute to young people thinking about suicide, but added that some youths are at an increased risk.
NYC Health said 8.3 percent of NYC high school students reported having attempted suicide within the past 12 months.
It said the rate of attempted suicide was 32 percent among NYC youth who have been bullied on school grounds in the past 12 months and identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or were not sure of their sexual identity.
NYC Health said 1 in 3 transgender youth in NYC have seriously thought about taking their lives, and 2 in 5 reports having made a suicide attempt in the past 12 months.
NYC LGB youth, and youth who were not sure of their sexual identity, attempted suicide at significantly higher rates in comparison to heterosexual youth, NYC Health said.
Nationally, it said LGB youth who experience rejection at home are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.
“Suicide is preventable and supportive adults play critical roles in the lives of young people at risk for suicide,” NYC Health said. “Learn the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, along with the specific protective factors that keep young LGBTQ people safe.”
NYC Health urged that if you are thinking about suicide, reach out to someone you trust, your doctor, or call 1-888-NYC-WELL (1-888-692-9355) for free, confidential and immediate support.
Other crisis intervention resources for LGBTQ youth and their caregivers include: The Trevor Project’s 24/7/365 suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQ youth and their loved ones: 1-866-488-7386; Support via text (Crisis Text Line): Text “START” to 741-741; and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
