Risk and Protective Factors to LGBTQ+ Youth Suicide: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

LGBTQ+ youth experience higher rates of suicidal ideation and behavior than their cisgender, heterosexual peers, and these disparities have created a need for academic exploration of the risk factors and protective factors surrounding LGBTQ+ youth suicide (Taliaferro and Muehlenkamp in Acad Pediatr 17:715–722; Toomey et al. in J Youth Adolesc 48:788–801; Ybarra et al. in: Espelage et al. (eds) Youth suicide and bullying: challenges and strategies for prevention and intervention, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014). This paper reviews the research that has been completed on these topics in the last 10 years. A variety of risk factors have contributed to higher rates of suicidal ideation, attempts, and completion: minority stress, interpersonal constructs, race, transgender identity, partner violence, homelessness, school victimization, and a lack of school support (Joiner in Why people die by suicide, Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2005; Meyer in Psychol Bull 129:674–697; Mustanski and Liu in Arch Sex Behav 42:437–448; Van Orden et al. in Psychol Rev 117:575–600). Furthermore, a range of protective factors have been connected with lower rates of suicidal ideation and behavior: gender and sexuality alliances, LGBTQ+ inclusive curriculum, LGBTQ+ affirming school policies, familial support, peer support, and mental health interventions (Poteat and Rivers in Youth suicide and bullying: challenges and strategies for prevention and intervention, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2014; Stone et al. in Suicide Life Threat Behav 45:415–430; Whitaker et al. in J Adolesc Health 58:63–68). Areas for future research are recommended, including examining diverse LGBTQ+ subpopulations and developing standard measurements for LGBTQ+ identities. The paper concludes with highlights from the past 10 years of research.