The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) has partnered with the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center for their lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) Initiative. The purpose of the initiative is to conduct research, participate in discussions and make recommendations surrounding the suicide risk among the LGBTQ population, specifically. Joining them in this feat are suicide and health researchers, clinicians, policy advocates, and LGBTQ study participants.
A conference was held in 2007 regarding LGBTQ suicide and prevention and was sponsored by AFSP, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center and Eli Lilly and Company Foundation. There were two dozen experts invited to attend the conference and offer their thoughts, concerns and research findings. It was at this moving conference that discussion opened up about ways to reduce the suicidal risk and behavior in LGBTQ people.
In an effort to aid in education and awareness, further research grants were funded by AFSP following the 2007 conference. With the application of multiple studies across the United States and overseas, it was concluded that lesbian, gay and bisexual adolescents attempt suicide at a rate three to six times more than a comparably aged heterosexual youth. Three to six times. That is astounding.
The study also showed that anti-gay bullying and the detrimental effects that go along with such negative behavior also play a huge role in low self esteem and considerations of suicide. Because of this, AFSP has been working with the Annenberg Public Policy Center to ensure that the media coverage surrounding such a controversial (and very real) subject depicts an appropriate picture of the situations at hand. The Trevor Project, the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and the Hetrick-Martin Institute joined forces with the AFSP in April 2010 for an expert panel discussion on anti-gay bullying.
(Little tidbit: suicide is currently the second-highest cause of death in college-age students – not LGBTQ-specific, but overall).
Everyone is encouraged to get involved. Real change comes in the form of hard work, dedication and assistance from the community most affected and least heard. The LGBTQ Initiative aims to work with volunteers in their communities to help create changes to state and federal policies that will inevitably affect the mental health of all LGBTQ people.
The LGBTQ Initiative is currently being funded by a grant from the Johnson Family Foundation.
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