Study: Lesbian teens
face higher risk of suicide
From TheStar.com on
the Web, June 6, 2006
Toronto -- Lesbian teens are
more than four times likely to try to kill themselves than straight teen
females, according to new research.
And the data show lesbian and bisexual teen females are at much higher risk than
homosexual and bisexual teen males, B.C.'s McCreary Centre Society research
director Elizabeth Saewyc said in an interview yesterday.
The Canadian Mental Health Association's Centre for Suicide Prevention has
identified gay teens as a potential high-risk group for suicide since 2003.
But what is most alarming, Saewyc said, is that the research from 1992, 1998 and
2003 shows the increased risk of suicide among the lesbian and bisexual female
teens is growing — from about 1 in 5 in 1992, to 1 in 4 in 1998 and to 1 in 3 in
2003 survey. The rate for heterosexual female teens has stayed the same.
"We may have a lot of more positive images in the media but within our society
there is still a strong set of messages that indicate that being a lesbian is
far from okay or even barely normal," she said. "Kids pick up those
messages."
Saewyc said the debate over same-sex marriage brought many of the messages about
being gay into full public debate and young gays are very aware of any of the
negative connotations that were depicted.
"There could be some backlash," she said. "Kids are very sensitive.
Hateful words and any forms of violence, emotional or otherwise, affect them."
The B.C. group found 38 per cent of lesbian teens and 30.4 per cent of bisexual
teen females reported attempting suicide in the past year. That compares
to just 8.2 per cent of the heterosexual teen females surveyed, she said.
The data came from the group's 2003 survey of 30,000 students between Grades 7
and 12.
By contrast, just 8.8 per cent of homosexuals, 12.8 per cent of bisexual male
teens and 3.3 per cent of heterosexual male teens said they had attempted
suicide in the past year.
The fact that females in general are more likely to attempt suicide but males
are more likely to succeed could have skewed the figures, Saewyc said.
Statistics show suicide is the second leading cause of death for teens. If
a person is suicidal, or knows someone who is, it's crucial to tell someone
right away. Teens can talk to an adult, a parent, teacher, doctor or
school counsellor. Crisis centre numbers are listed in the phone
directories.
|
