Factors influencing suicide risk among sexual minority youth: CrossCurrents Winter 2004/05

CrossCurrents

Various suicide triggers specific to sexual minority youth include:

• questioning but being unable to articulate
• feeling different from the accepted heterosexual norm
• being shocked at having a crush on someone of the same sex
• being bullied at school for being a butch, dyke, fairy, fag or queer
• being the butt of jokes, graffiti and hate crimes
• not having a voice
• being confused over sexuality and having no role models
• using alcohol or other drugs to deal with the stigma of belonging to a sexual minority
• feeling shame, guilt or self-loathing about one's sexual identity or gender identity

Protective factors that lessen the risk of suicide include:

• feeling connected to family and school
• having good problem-solving and coping skills
• being in good physical and mental health
• having a strong religious faith or believing that life has a meaning or purpose
• feeling part of a community and participating socially
• having a close friend, preferably an adult

Source: Bringing Youth Voices Out of the Closet: Are You Asking the Right Questions to Help Prevent Suicide?

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