Mental health disparities disproportionately impact sexual and gender minorities, including a significantly increased risk of suicidality. Evidence suggests that the suicide-related disparities observed in transgender adults begins in adolescence. To further evaluate these health outcomes, nurse researchers used data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey to examine differences in suicidality based on gender identity. The study found significant disparities in suicide-related outcomes based on gender minority status, including peer victimization, depression, and substance use. Researchers found that transgender youth had 2.7 times higher odds of past-year suicide attempts and 2.5 times higher odds of past-year suicide attempts requiring treatment compared to cisgender youth (those whose gender identity corresponds with their sex assigned at birth). Understanding factors that contribute to this higher risk is critical to developing policies and tailored interventions (for example, school-based interventions to reduce bullying) that improve mental health resources, decrease mental health disparities, and reduce suicides among gender-minority youth.
Jackman KB, Caceres BA, Kreuze EJ, Bockting WO. Suicidality among Gender Minority Youth: Analysis of 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data. Arch Suicide Res. 2021 Apr-Jun; 25(2):208-223. doi: 10.1080/13811118.2019.1678539. PMID: 31642392; PMCID: PMD7176535.