Date: Thu, 13 Jun 1996 06:16:49 -0400 (edt) From: Sam Damon Subject: Re: LGB Youth Suicide Info? > Any suggestions for recent (last 2 years) resources on LGB youth suicide-- > especailly statistical information? Although some of these references are older than two years, you may still find them helpful. You should also browse the Quuer Resource Directory (http://www.qrd.org/qrd) and the various Web sites out there specifically for gay youths (try doing a search on the key words "gay youth"). Good luck. 1) "Factfile: Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Youth," Hetrick-Martin Institute, 1992. Among the many many facts they report are: a) Half of lesbigay youths reported in a 1987 study that their parents rejected them for being gay; b) 1 in 4 lesbigay youths are forced to leave home because of their orientation; c) half of gay/bi male youths are are forced into prostitution to survive; d) 80% of lesbigay youths reported severe isolation in a 1987 study. Kj You should contact the Hetrick-Martin Institute. They are the world's leading organization devoted to gay youths, and run the Harvey Milk High School. They're at 2 Astor Place @ Broadway, NY, NY 10003. 212-674-2400. 2) "Report of the Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide," US Dept of Health and Human Services, 1989. a) Lesbigays constitute up to 25% of all homeless youths; b) Every day, 13 Americans ages 15-24 commit suicide; in 1989, suicide was the leading cause of death among lesbigay and transgendered youths; c) Lesbigay youths are 2-3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their hetero peers. Lesbigays account for 30% of completed suicides among youths. d) 53% of transgendered youths had attempted suicide in a 1981 survey. 3) Remafedi G, Farrow JA, Deisher RW. "Risk Factors for Attempted Suicide in Gay and Bisexual Youths," Pediatrics 87, June 1991. a) in this study of 137 gay/bi male youths, 30% had attempted suicide once and 13% had multiple attempts. The mean age for those attempting suicide was 15.5. 75% of first attempts occurred after the youth labeled himself homosexual. 4) Erwin K. Interpreting the evidence: Competing paradigms and the emergence of lesbian and gay suicide as a "social fact." International Journal of Health Services 1993;23:437-453. 5) Hammelman TL. Gay and lesbian youth: Contributing factors to serious attempts or considerations of suicide. Journal of Gay & Lesbian Psychotherapy 1993;2:77-89. (N=48. Nearly one-half seriously considered suicide while one-third actually tried it. "Close to three-quarters of this population cited sexual orientation as some or most of the reason for their suicide consideration or attempt with the majority revealing that they had done so at age 17 or before." Fifty-percent or more of those with 1-a substance abuse problem, 2-physical or emotional abuse, or 3-family rejection, reported sexual orientation to be the main reason for these problems.) 6) Savin-Williams RC. Verbal and physical abuse as stressors in the lives of lesbian, gay male, and bisexual youths: Associations with school problems, running away, substance abuse, prostitution, and suicide. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 1994;62:261-269. (This study concludes that "although the causal link ... has not been scientifically established, there is suggestive evidence that these outcomes are consequences of verbal and physical harassment.") 7) Cwayna K, Remafedi G, Treadway L. Caring for gay and lesbian youth. Medical Aspects of Human Sexuality 1991;July:50-57. ("Homosexual teenagers have special needs that are best addressed by a supportive physician whom they can trust.") 8) Gonsiorek JC. Mental health issues of gay and lesbian adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health Care 1988;9:114-122. I'm pretty sure I have a few more references but my files are unfortunately at work.