Break the stigma: LGBT persons

It’s been a busy few months, doing what we can to support our clients, staff, and ourselves. Self care, scheduling, speaking up for our needs, and setting boundaries has been key. We usually post a #breakthestigma post on Fridays, sharing information on misunderstood diagnosis, behaviors, biases, etc etc... yesterday was my birthday and while living in the heart of Lakeview /Lincoln Park, Chicago for a few years, I always celebrated during Pride. A time celebrating love, acceptance, and mutual understanding that underneath it all we are all human, and are worthy. When we deny that truth of seeing another soul and human as perfect whole and complete, we deny them life, growth, freedom, safety, self love... and that has all sorts of negative consequences like: Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among young people ages 10 to 24.1

LGB youth seriously contemplate suicide at almost three times the rate of heterosexual youth.2

LGB youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth.2

Of all the suicide attempts made by youth, LGB youth suicide attempts were almost five times as likely to require medical treatment than those of heterosexual youth.2

Suicide attempts by LGB youth and questioning youth are 4 to 6 times more likely to result in injury, poisoning, or overdose that requires treatment from a doctor or nurse, compared to their straight peers.2

In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. 92% of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25.3

LGB youth who come from highly rejecting families are 8.4 times as likely to have attempted suicide as LGB peers who reported no or low levels of family rejection.4

1 out of 6 students nationwide (grades 9–12) seriously considered suicide in the past year. [5]

Each episode of LGBT victimization, such as physical or verbal harassment or abuse, increases the likelihood of self-harming behavior by 2.5 times on average.