Research on Teen Suicide
By Diana Zuckerman, Ph.D.
Gay Teens
There has been a lot of public concern about gay teens being the victims of violence and hate crimes, but this new report indicates that suicide may be the greater danger. Youths who describe themselves as gay, lesbian, bisexual or "not sure" report more suicide attempts than those describe themselves as heterosexual, according to a newly published study of more than 3,000 Massachusetts public high school students, which was based on a survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Suicide attempts are reported by many teens: one in 10 of all the teens in the survey reported at least one suicide attempt within the last year, which is similar to the national rate of nine percent. However, students who reported that they were gay, lesbian, bisexual or "not sure" were more than three times as likely to report at least one suicide attempt in the past year. Suicide attempts were six times more likely for non-heterosexual males than heterosexual males, and twice as likely for non-heterosexual females compared to heterosexual females.
Suicide is on the upswing, and was the third leading cause of death among 15-to-19-year-olds in 1996, which translates into approximately 5,000 deaths each year. In addition to sexual orientation, there are other traits that independently put teens at risk for suicide attempts, such as drug use, higher levels of violence or being victims of violence, and Hispanic ethnicity. Girls are more likely to attempt suicide than are boys.
Native Americans and Alaska Native Youth
Suicide attempts are also very high among Native Americans and Alaska Native youth. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among these groups.In a study of more than 11,600 students in grades 7-12 at schools at reservation communities in eight different Indian Health Service areas, 22 percent of the girls and 12 percent of the boys reported having ever attempting suicide. This study included junior high school students, whereas the above study on sexual orientation only included grades 9-12.
Suicide attempts were especially likely among youths who had a friend who had attempted or committed suicide, but there were other characteristics that were also independently associated with suicide. These included having a family member who had attempted or committed suicide, having a history of physical or sexual abuse, having frequent headaches or stomach problems, having health concerns, frequent alcohol or marijuana use, and having ever having used any other illegal or harmful drug.
There were some differences between the boys and girls who attempted suicide. For girls, knowing where to get a gun and having been in a special education class were associated with having attempted suicide. For boys, being involved with a gang or being treated for emotional problems were associated with having attempted suicide. These all "predicted" suicide attempts independently of the health problems, drug use and experience with friends or families attempting or committing suicide.
The researchers also studied the characteristics and experiences that tended to prevent suicide attempts. They found that feeling connected to their families, discussing problems with friends or family members, and general emotional health "protected" youths from attempting suicide, even if they had some of the characteristics that significantly predicted suicide attempts.
The "risk factors" and the "protective factors" were equally important. For example, more than three out of four boys and girls with three or more risk factors and no protective factors attempted suicide, but the risk decreased if the teenager had any protective factors or fewer risk factors.
All the students were from Alaska, Arizona, California, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, South Dakota or Tennessee. The data were based on the 1990 National American Indian Adolescent Health Survey, which included one question about same-sex sexual fantasies, which was not related to suicide attempts in this study.
References:
Teens and Suicide Attempts: Who Is At Risk?
Sexual Orientation and Risk of Suicide Attempts Among a Representative Sample of Youth
Robert Garofalo, M.D., R. Cameron Wolf, et al.
Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
May 1999, pgs. 487-93
For free copies contact Dr. Garofalo at rgarafalo@jrihealth.org, or at the Division of General Pediatrics,
Children's Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA. (617) 355-6714.Suicide Attempts Among American Indian and Alaska Native Youth
Iris Wagman Borowsky, M.D., Ph.D. et al
Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine
June 1999, pgs 573-80
Free copy available from Dr. Borowsky, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health,
University of Minnesota, Box 571 FUMC, 420 Delaware St SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455,
or at borow004@gold.tc.umn.edu.
These articles are based on Diana Zuckerman's monthly Research Watch columns that appeared in Youth Today in issues from November 1999 through November 2004, and were reprinted with permission. Youth Today is a publication of the American Youth Work Center, 1200 17th St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20036. (800) 599-2455. E-mail: youthtoday@aol.com.
National Research Center for Women & Families
1701 K St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20006. (202) 223-4000
© NRC & MoonLight Enterprises. All rights reserved.
Contents are copyrighted by their respective owners.
