health
Community action can be a factor in suicide attempts by gay youths
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted May 2, 2011
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youths are more likely to attempt suicide if they live in communities that are unsupportive of their sexual orientation, according to a study published online April 18 in Pediatrics.
Researchers examined the responses of 31,852 11th-graders to the Oregon Healthy Teens Survey between 2006 and 2008. The survey asked students to identify their sexual orientation as lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual.
The study found that nearly 20% of lesbian and gay youths and 22% of bisexual teens attempted suicide at least once in the past year. The figure was 4% among their heterosexual peers (link).
Lesbian, gay or bisexual youths living in unsupportive communities had a 20% greater risk of attempting suicide compared with those who resided in a more positive environment. The risk was 9% higher among heterosexuals who lived in unsupportive communities.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2011/05/02/hlbf0502.htm.
