Relative to girls, boys seem protected from suicidal ideation and nonfatal suicidal behavior but more vulnerable to suicide mortality. High rates of nonfatal suicidal behavior have been especially well-documented among gay males (McDaniel, Purcell, & D’Augelli, 2001). Young persons who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual are twice as likely as their hetero-sexual peers to have a history of suicidal behavior (Russell & Joyner, 2001). The “gender paradox” of suicidal behavior, however, persists (Canetto, 1997; Canetto & Lester, 1998), where males have higher suicide mortality and females have higher nonfatal suicidal behavior. The increase in African American male youth suicide has been particularly substantial in the South (CDC, 1998). In recent decades, however, suicide rates for African American male adolescents have increased more rapidly than suicide rates for European American male adolescents, such that the gap between the rates for these two groups is now narrower.
- Beyond such adaptations of existing programs, other communities are experimenting with new methods developed in cooperation with minority groups themselves.
- The researchers recommend that suicide prevention efforts are tailored based on sex and race; however, this study did not include identification as LGB (Xiao et al., 2021).
- On item 9 of the PHQ‐9, concerning passive suicidal thoughts, 86% endorsed passive suicidal ideation in the previous 2 weeks.
- New Hampshire’s ConnectTM program is a comprehensive model for planning and implementing suicide prevention and postvention practices.
Voices in mental health
Unfortunately, the majority of these are young people whose brains are still developing, and they may lack support both at home and in their communities for their SUDs and/or their mental health issues. Due to internalized stress caused by housing, employment, education, transportation, incarceration, physical health, and safety factors, members of minority communities often develop substance use disorders (SUDs). In some communities of color, people are uncomfortable acknowledging or discussing any mental health issues, let https://drexel.edu/counselingandhealth/counseling-center/cultural-identity-resources/latinx alone asking for help to improve and preserve their mental health. According to licensed clinical mental health counselor Rwenshaun Miller, that was the mantra in his home and community as he grew up. The prevalence of suicidality was higher among females, younger people, and the bisexual population.
Data availability
Sexual and gender minority populations had a higher prevalence of suicidality and less social support and health care access compared to the heterosexual and cisgender populations. We conclude this study with recommendations for how states can better support suicide prevention efforts for diverse groups of ethnoracially minoritized youth through more in-depth analyses and utilization of data. Thus, researchers argue for the need to examine subgroup data for suicide trends for accurate reporting, suicide prevention efforts, and intentional efforts to mitigate risk among these populations. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide.
Mental health resources for Latinx & Hispanic communities
Results from a pre and post survey with responses from 115 participants indicated that 90 % intended to get more information about, 48 % to be vigilant for, and 20 % to talk with a health care professional about mental health concerns in themselves or someone they knew . However, even with the best of intentions, family, friends, or other members of the community in contact with an individual at risk for suicide are not naturally adept in providing assistance and referral . When an at-risk person does seek professional mental health referral or treatment, family and friends frequently play a key role in convincing the person to do so . Culturally competent care that respects and understands the unique experiences of minority individuals is vital. Community engagement programs that encourage social interaction, regular health check-ups and mental health screenings can help mitigate these risks.
At the same time, studies find lower rates of access to mental health services or delays in service access for youth of color at risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors compared to their White peers (3–8). Bisexual youth in our study had either higher or similar prevalence/severity for all examined suicide risk and protective factors relative to other sexual minority subgroups. Longitudinal studies examining risk and protective factors among SMY are greatly needed, particularly those powered to detect potential differences as a function of dual-minority (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity) intersectionality, in order to best learn how to tailor prevention and intervention approaches to health disparities among SMY. The greater prevalence of minority-stress-related suicide risk and protective factors for bisexual youth offers preliminary support for utilizing the Minority Stress Model (Meyer, 1995, 2003) to explain some of the differences in suicidal ideation and behaviors within sexual minority subgroups.