LGBTQ Youth and Suicide - NYC Health

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LGBTQ Youth and Suicide

Being LGBTQ alone does not put a young person at higher risk for suicide; the discrimination, rejection, fear, and harassment that may come with being LGBTQ in an unsupportive environment are what increase the risk.

We want young LGBTQ people to know they are not alone, and the adults in their lives to know when and how to best support them.

If you are thinking about suicide, reach out to someone you trust, your doctor, or call 988 for free, confidential, and immediate support.

Other crisis intervention resources for LGBTQ youth and their caregivers include:

The Trevor Project’s 24/7/365 suicide prevention and crisis intervention hotline for LGBTQ youth and their loved ones: 1-866-488-7386

Support via text (Crisis Text Line): Text “START” to 741-741

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

Risk Factors

Suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among 15-24 year olds in NYC. When young people die by suicide, it can be hard to understand. We are often left wondering what happened or what we as adults could have done to help. We sometimes forget how hard adolescence is, and do not always know whether a young person is experiencing a crisis or simply going through typical changes.

There are many risk factors that contribute to young people thinking about suicide, but some youth are at an increased risk:

8.3% of NYC high school students reported having attempted suicide within the past 12 months;

The rate of attempted suicide was 32% among NYC youth who have been bullied on school grounds in the past 12 months and identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual or were not sure of their sexual identity.

1 in 3 transgender youth in NYC have seriously thought about taking their lives, and 2 in 5 report having made a suicide attempt in the past 12 months.

NYC LGB youth, and youth who were not sure of their sexual identity, attempted suicide at significantly higher rates in comparison to heterosexual youth.

Nationally, LGB youth who experience rejection at home are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.

What You Can Do to Help

Suicide is preventable and supportive adults play critical roles in the lives of young people at risk for suicide. Learn the risk factors and warning signs of suicide, along with the specific protective factors that keep young LGBTQ people safe.

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Resources for Parents & Caregivers

It is important to tell your child you are concerned and want to help, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Some organizations that offer information and guidance around suicide prevention and supporting LGBTQ youth include:

Youth suicide warning signs

The Trevor Project: Crisis intervention and suicide prevention support for LGBTQ youth and their loved ones

TransYouth Family Allies: Guidance and support for transgender youth, their families and communities

PFLAG NYC: Peer-to-peer support for parents, families and friends of LGBTQ people

The Jed Foundation: Suicide prevention strategies in college and university environments

The Center: Local, comprehensive community center for NYC LGBTQ youth and their families; Visit in person or online.

Not sure what to do? Call 988 for immediate, free, and confidential support.

Resources for NYC School Personnel

Take advantage of the free trainings available to NYC elementary, middle, and high school personnel. These include:

Youth Mental Health First Aid: register here

Kognito At-Risk training suite: register here

Making Educators Partners: contact your Field Support Center Student Services Team

The Jed Foundation: Prevent suicide on college and university campuses

GLSEN: Create a safe and inclusive environment for LGBTQ youth and their allies

Download the #BeThe1To Message Toolkit for 5 steps to help someone in crisis

Prevention Training Opportunities for Professionals

Recommendations for Training and Education on LGTBQ Issues (PDF)

Hetrick-Martin Institute

Harm Reduction Coalition Training Institute

The Trevor Project Trainings for Professionals

Sage Care

Issues Impacting LGBTQ Youth and How to Help:

How Do Mental Health Conditions Affect the LGBTQ Community? (NAMI)

More Mental Health Resources

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services in NYC

Crisis Services/Mental Health: Mobile Crisis Teams

Suicide Prevention