Kentucky Youth Law Project, Inc.
From the Trevor Project's Facts About Suicide
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people ages 10-24; lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are 4 times more likely, and questioning youth are 3 times more likely, to attempt suicide than their non-LGBTQ counterparts.
- Suicide attempts by LGB and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires medical treatment.
- Nearly half of transgender youth have seriously thought about taking their lives; one quarter report having attempted suicide.
- LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide than LGB peers who report no or low levels of family rejection. Twenty-six percent (26%) of gay teens are kicked out of their homes after coming out to their families.
- Nationwide, 1 out of 6 students, grades 9-12 seriously considered suicide in the past year.
- Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times, on average. According to the National School Climate Survey, 50% of Kentucky LGBT students have been harassed or assaulted at school and never reported it; and a majority have been verbally harassed.
- Homeless LGBT youth attempt suicide at much higher rates (62%) than straight homeless youth (29%).
For more information on preventing suicides among LGBTQ youth, check out these organizations:
You are not alone. It does get better, and there are people who will help you.
- The Trevor Project, http://www.thetrevorproject.org/ or call 1-866-488-7386 (24/7)
- The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/ or call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) (24/7)
You are not alone. It does get better, and there are people who will help you.
Here are some additional articles on mental health issues, provided by Molly Anderson at RecoveryHope.org. We hope some of you may find them useful:
| https://www.getselfhelp.co.uk/docs/healthy%20eating%20depression.pdf |
| mhclassroomfactsheet.pdf |
| a_checklist_for_parents_with_children_with_mental_health_problems.docx |