Let’s Talk About Suicide
When I started writing this article, I did not realize that Regina, my predecessor, had also written an article about suicide prevention two years ago. I almost decided to write about something else, but the topic is so important I decided to stick with it, especially now when LGBTQ+ rights and protection are under attack. Regina’s article briefly mentions, “Suicidality disproportionately affects the LGBTQ community, often because of the higher levels of trauma, stress, and discrimination we experience.” And then goes on to give some warning signs, discusses the importance of asking a person directly, without judgement, if they are thinking about suicide, and gives resources to get more information.
Regina’s Article
Here is Regina’s article in full: Preventing Suicide — Cortland LGBTQ Center. Please read this first as a point of reference.
Warning Signs
Many of the warning signs are things you would expect. Feeling depressed, hopeless, like you have no reason to live, feeling a burden to others, trapped, and in unbearable chronic pain. A person who feels this way may have an increased use of alcohol or drugs, look for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods, withdraw from activities they previously enjoyed, isolate from their family and friends, sleep all the time or have trouble sleeping. Some of the signs are more extreme and may be surprising or hard to pick up on. A person experiencing suicidal ideation may visit or call to say goodbye, give away prized possessions, seem more irritable.
One of the signs that is most surprising to many people is that a person may experience sudden relief or improvement. People who care about the person may have been very attentive to help the person when they were obviously depressed, but when it looks like they are suddenly better, they think that person no longer needs them and may pull away. This is actually a huge red flag sign that they person may now have the energy and a plan to act on their suicide ideation.
Asking Saves Lives
If you think something is off or even wonder, it does not hurt to ask in a non-judgemental and caring way. If the person you asked was not thinking about suicide they may be surprised, but it will not suddenly put the idea in their head. Asking saves lives.
Regina offered these resources for conversation tips and how to connect a person to services from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention:
LGBTQ+ Stories of Hope after Suicidal Ideation
I want to give people a more concrete sense of why suicidality disproportionately impacts the LGBTQ+ community. Statistics don’t really give all the nuances of why something is happening. To fully understand this, people really need to hear people’s stories. I can’t reshare people’s stories that I have personally hear or the ones of people/clients I work with, so I looked up some stories online. Keep in mind, these are just 8 of the many people who have experienced suicidal ideation. In this article, eight LGBTQ+ adults and two trans teens spoke with The 19th about their suicidal ideation and what helped them. LGBTQ+ people share stories of hope and survival after suicidal ideation May 11, 2022
Support Guide for Affirming LGBTQ+ Youth
I also want to point out that a good portion of a person’s childhood is spent in schools. If an LGBTQ+ youth homelife is harmful to their mental health, schools can be a respite if and only if the school is affirming to LGBTQ+ youth. The Trevor Project has this guide to help educators learn how to support LGBTQ+ youth. A lot of the things mentioned can be transferred to other settings and populations, so the guide is useful even if you don’t work in the schools or with LGBTQ+ youth specifically. Creating LGBTQ+-Affirming Schools: Practical Ways Educators Can Support LGBTQ+ Youth | The Trevor Project
Grief and Loss
When I was looking for information and additional resources I came across this resource about grief. Suicide and grief are connected and sometimes people who have had a love one die from suicide experience suicide ideation themselves. Here is an online resource tool that also lists other resources. LGBTQ Loss - Online Resource Tool for LGBTQ Community Grieving | LGBTQ Loss.
Updated Resources
And finally, I want to directly give support resources here. Some of the resources from Regina’s article have changed. 988 no longer has a “dedicated LGBTQ+ youth hotline where callers, texters, and chat users could be redirected to connect with counselors trained in supporting LGBTQ+ young people under age 25. Source: Closed: Trump Admin Officially Shuts Down the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services | The Trevor Project
Trans Lifeline is a peer support hotline run by trans people for trans and questioning individuals. https://translifeline.org
1-877-565-8860 (United States)
1-877-330-6366 (Canada)
Trevor Project is the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ youth provides 24/7 confidential crisis support, research, education, and advocacy.offers a 24/7 call, text, and chat line for LGBTQ youth under 24
Call: 1-866-488-7386
Text: 678-678
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention has a more extensive list here: LGBTQ crisis and support resources | AFSP