A new study shows that negative social environments
May lead to increased risk for attempted suicide by lesbian, gay and bisexual teens, otherwise known as LGB teens. The risk of suicide attempts among LGB teens is 20% higher in communities that are less supportive of homosexuality, according to this study.
Their heterosexual teenage counterparts living in a supportive environment reported 9% fewer attempts of suicide.
Mark L. Hatzenbuehler, PhD, of the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University notes that “the results of this study are pretty compelling. When communities support their gay young people, and schools adopt anti-bullying and anti-discrimination policies that specifically protect lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth, the risk of attempted suicide by all young people drops, especially for LGB youth.”
Certain factors are to blame for increased risk of suicide attempts among LGB teens.
These include depression, peer victimization, hazardous substance use and physical abuse by an adult. Read more