Research has found that 82% transgender individuals have considered suicide (Austin et al., 2022), 40% of transgender individuals have attempted suicide (Tanis, 2006) and LGBTQ+ youth are nearly 2.5x more likely to consider suicide than their straight, cisgender peers (Luk et al., 2021).
Factors contributing to suicidality include but are not limited to: discrimination; homophobia; violence; gender nonconformity; societal attitudes and supportive policies; family; religious persecution and a harmful school community.
While protective factors include but not limited to: family support and acceptance of one’s sexual orientation and/or gender identity; safety and connections in school setting; positive social supports and role models; cultural and/or religious beliefs and culturally competent care (The Trevor Project, 2022). Resources are available for those in the LGBTQ+ community, as well as for allies of the LGBTQ+ community, and/or for those interested in learning more.
Resources and Links
The Trevor Project
The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.
Trans Lifeline
Trans Lifeline is a grassroots hotline and microgrants 501(c)(3) non-profit organization offering direct emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis – for the trans community, by the trans community.
CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers
Exists to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement.
The Family Acceptance Project
The Family Acceptance Project® is a research, intervention, education and policy initiative that works to prevent health and mental health risks for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) children and youth, including suicide, homelessness and HIV – in the context of their families, cultures and faith communities. We use a research-based, culturally grounded approach to help ethnically, socially and religiously diverse families to support their LGBT children.
The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network
The Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays
Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG national office, located in Washington, D.C., the national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors.
The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States
SIECUS – the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States – was founded in 1964 to provide education and information about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health.
Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention for LGBTQIA2S+ Youth
This series of guides from the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) can help professionals, families, and communities support the mental well-being of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2S+) youth.