Suicidality Among Youth Who are Questioning, Unsure of, or Exploring Their Sexual Identity.

Many studies have found that lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth are disproportionately impacted by poor mental health outcomes. However, there remains a gap in understanding factors associated with the mental health of youth who are questioning, unsure of, or exploring (QUE) their sexual identity. Using data from The Trevor Project's 2019 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, a quantitative cross-sectional survey of LGBTQ youth between 13 and 24, we explored suicidality among 801 QUE youth. Significantly more QUE youth were younger, nonwhite, and transgender and nonbinary compared to other LGBTQ youth. QUE youth reported higher rates of suicidality compared to other LGBTQ youth; however, this increased risk was related to the overrepresentation of younger and transgender and nonbinary youth among QUE youth. In adjusted models, being transgender and nonbinary, hearing parents use religion to say negative things about being LGBTQ, and experiencing physical threat or harm based on sexual orientation or gender identity were significantly related to seriously considering suicide and attempting suicide among QUE youth. Given the intricate relationship between the two, researchers should assess both gender identity and sexual identity when determining the risk of suicidality among LGBTQ youth.

Association of Sexual Orientation Acceptance with Reduced Suicide Attempts Among Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning Youth.

Purpose: This study examined the relationship between sexual orientation acceptance from others and suicide attempts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Methods: We analyzed data from a 2018 cross-sectional survey of LGBTQ youth between the ages of 13 and 24 years across the United States. Youth reported sexual orientation acceptance levels from parents, other relatives, school professionals, health care professionals, friends, and classmates to whom who they were "out." Adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to examine the association between sexual orientation acceptance and a past-year suicide attempt. Results: All forms of peer and adult acceptance were associated with reduced reports of a past-year suicide attempt, with the strongest associations found for acceptance from parents (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.52) and straight/heterosexual friends (aOR = 0.54). Youth who reported high levels of acceptance from any adult had nearly 40% (aOR = 0.61) lower odds of a past-year suicide attempt compared with LGBTQ peers with little to no acceptance. Youth with high levels of acceptance from any peer also had significantly lower odds of reporting a past-year suicide attempt (aOR = 0.55). These relationships remained significant even after controlling for the impact of each form of acceptance, suggesting unique associations with suicide risk for both peer and adult acceptance. Conclusion: Interventions aimed at increasing sexual orientation acceptance from supportive adults and peers have strong potential to address the public health burden of LGBTQ youth suicide.

Impact of Bathroom Discrimination on Mental Health Among Transgender and Nonbinary Youth.

PURPOSE: Nascent research has found that transgender and/or nonbinary (TGNB) youths experience higher rates of poor mental health outcomes than cisgender youths. The minority stress model highlights experiences of rejection and discrimination on mental health disparities for TGNB individuals. METHODS: Using data from a quantitative cross-sectional survey of TGNB youth aged 13-24 years, we examined the association between experiencing bathroom discrimination and depressive mood, seriously considering suicide, and attempting suicide. RESULTS: Overall, 58% of TGNB youths in this sample reported being prevented or discouraged from using a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity. Among the TGNB youth who experienced bathroom discrimination, 85% reported depressive mood and 60% seriously considered suicide. Furthermore, 1 in three TGNB youths who experienced bathroom discrimination reported a past-year suicide attempt, with 1 in five reporting multiple suicide attempts. After adjusting for demographic variables and general discrimination due to one's gender identity, bathroom discrimination significantly increased the odds of reporting depressive mood (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.34), seriously considering suicide (aOR = 1.40), a suicide attempt (aOR = 1.66), and multiple suicide attempts (aOR = 1.71). CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that preventing TGNB youths from accessing appropriate bathrooms is associated with harmful mental health indicators. Addressing the suicide disparities for TGNB youths requires structural change. Policies and procedures need to be in place to ensure that all youths have equal access to appropriate bathrooms.

Self-Reported Conversion Efforts and Suicidality Among US LGBTQ Youths and Young Adults, 2018.

Objectives. To explore associations between undergoing sexual orientation or gender identity conversion efforts (SOGICE) and suicidality among young LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer or questioning) individuals.Methods. Data were derived from a 2018 online cross-sectional study of young LGBTQ individuals (13-24 years of age) residing in the United States. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine the relative odds of suicidality among young LGBTQ individuals who experienced SOGICE (in comparison with those who did not) after adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, geography, parents' use of religion to say negative things about being LGBTQ, sexual orientation, gender identity, discrimination because of sexual orientation or gender identity, and physical threats or harm because of sexual orientation or gender identity.Results. Relative to young people who had not experienced SOGICE, those who reported undergoing SOGICE were more than twice as likely to report having attempted suicide and having multiple suicide attempts.Conclusions. The elevated odds of suicidality observed among young LGBTQ individuals exposed to SOGICE underscore the detrimental effects of this unethical practice in a population that already experiences significantly greater risks for suicidality.