LGBTIQ and Suicide Prevention

Lifeline

Article by Alan Woodward
General Manager
Lifeline Research Foundation

LGBTIQ people have amongst the highest experiences of suicidality of any population in Australia. 

Same-gender attracted Australians are estimated to experience up to 14 times higher rates of attempted suicide than their heterosexual peers. The exact rates of deaths by suicide amongst LGBTIQ people are difficult to determine from conventional data sets.

A recent research report titled “Growing Up Queer” by the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre has found that of those young respondents to survey research, 41% had thought about suicide and 16% had attempted suicide.[1]   The recent research findings build on earlier findings from the 2005 Private Lives Survey in Australia which reported 16% of all respondents – LGBTIQ Australians - indicated suicidal ideation (thoughts) in the two weeks prior to completing the survey.[2]

Lifeline is aware of the issues surrounding gender identity and sexual orientation for many callers to its telephone crisis line. During 2012, almost a quarter (23.8%) of calls to Lifeline 13 11 14 involved an issue around the caller’s understanding of ‘self’ and some of these calls were about sexuality and/or gender identity. During this year, 2,536 calls were from people who self-identified as transgender. Detailed analysis of 2010 data found that 2% of calls from males to Lifeline 13 11 14 were about sexuality.

For LGBTIQ people, the experiences of harassment, discrimination, ostracism and marginalisation, including rejection often by families and friends, are often cited as contributing factors to poor mental health and wellbeing, and the onset of suicidal thoughts. Almost two thirds of the young people surveyed for the ‘Growing Up Queer’ report had experienced homophobia or transphobia oriented abuse.

Many LGBTIQ people struggle to find family and social supports which can act as protective factors against suicidal thoughts and actions.  Lesbian, gay and bisexual Australians are twice as likely as heterosexual Australians to have no contact with family or no family to rely on for serious problems (11.8% v 5.9%).[3]  

Sadly, many LGBTIQ people experience abuse within intimate relationships. Almost one third (32.7%) of respondents in the Private Lives Survey reported having been in a relationship where their partner abused them.

LGBTIQ Australians are also experiencing mental health issues disproportionally to the wider population. To illustrate this, the Private Lives Survey found that nearly three quarters of those surveyed reported some experience of depression in the past. At the time of this research, 49% of men and 44% of women scored on at least one of the two criteria for a current major depressive episode. 

What Can We Do?
 

First, it is important to understand the diversity within the LGBTIQ population. These Australians come from a wide range of backgrounds, live in different parts of the country and have different life experiences. Over-generalising can simply reinforce the stigma of being ‘categorised’ as a type or person. 

With regard to mental health issues and suicide prevention, it should also be recognised that the available research has shown transsexual and intersex Australians are even more vulnerable to mental illness and suicidal thoughts/actions than others in the LGBTIQ population.

Family support and acceptance are as critical to the mental health and wellbeing of LGBTIQ people as they are for all of us. However, it is in this area that families can contribute negatively to a LGBTIQ person’s life through rejection and prejudice. Families that show acceptance, encouragement and practical support can make a positive difference.

Services such as crisis lines can play a very important part in supporting LGBTIQ people. From their origins, crisis lines have been available as a private and non-judgemental source of help. They are accessible, increasingly so with the introduction of online as well as telephone crisis support. 

We can all play a part.

Communities can work constructively to reduce stigma and discrimination, as well as eliminate homophobic or transphobic attitudes in their midst. Community outlooks can impact positively on school, workplace and social environments for LGBTIQ people. In doing so, all of us can contribute to mentally healthy communities that enable diversity and health to co-exist.

[1] Robinson, KH, Bansel, P, Denson, N, Ovenden, G & Davies, Issues Facing Young Australians Who Are Gender Variant and Sexuality Diverse, Growing Up Queer: C 2013, Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre, Melbourne.
[2] Pitts, M., Smith, A., Mitchell, A., & Patel, S. (2006) Private Lives: A Report on the Health and Wellbeing of LGBTI Australians, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne
[3] National LGBTI Alliance, LGBTI Health 2013.

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Article contributed to the newsletter Perspectives - June 2014. Please note that this article is from an individual contributor and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Mental Health Council of Australia

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