Facilitating Connection and Saving Lives
The purpose of this paper is to detail a group aimed to provide support for lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adolescents. The paper begins by examining literature related to adolescent suicide rates, the lack of personal and community resources for teenagers, and adolescent development and mental health. The paper will then address the methodology, purpose, and goals of the group. The paper will address the role of the leader. He/she will utilize an Adlerian theoretical orientation and will be involved, directive, and authentic. The leader will attempt to facilitate social relatedness and corrective emotional experiences for group members. The paper will briefly review group evaluation, and it will examine potential ethical/multicultural issues that this leader and group may encounter. The paper will conclude by detailing activities that will be utilized throughout the six weeks of the group experience.
Literature Review
Adolescent Suicide and Distress
One young person—age ten to 19—takes his/her own life every 90 minutes (Gould et al. as cited in Kitts, 2005, p. 622). Russell and Joyner revealed that adolescents who identify as gay or lesbian are two times more likely to attempt suicide than straight adolescents (as cited in Kitts, 2005, p. 624). The risk factor for suicide for gay and lesbian adolescents is not their sexuality, but psychosocial distress they experience due to their sexuality (Kitts, 2005). Adolescents
Case Study 14.1: David’s coming Out Process 1. What are the developmental challenges for sexual minority youth, as articulated in David’s story? David’s story points out the complicated lives that LGBTQ youth experience, youth who identify as transgender, lesbian, gay, bisexual, or queer are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide, and studies show that that higher risk stems from their experiences of discrimination and victimization. David’s journey as a gay teen reveals the challenges some young people face just for being who they are.
Gay teenagers are a large portion of teens taking their lives by suicide this source states that 30 to 40% of gay boy and 20% of gay girls have attempted suicide. This group of teens feel isolated, lonely and reminded that
The article "Gay Teens Are at Risk," was written by Paula Schleis and Kim Hone-McMahan and was published in 2004 in Teens at Risk. This article describes how society is forcing the adolescents in the LGBT community into depression and causing them to attempt suicide. According to the article, gay teens risk loosing friends and loved ones if they 'come out of the closet' and thus either try to fruitlessly hide their sexuality or attempt suicide. Additionally, the article states that one-third of teen suicides are committed by homosexuals because of homophobia. With this article's use of pathos and heart-string-pulling language gain empathy and attention from their readers. Though neither authors have a personal background or connection to the
Particular Implications for LGBTQ Adolescents The typical issues encountered by youth as they move into adulthood can be challenging for any adolescent, but for LGBTQ adolescents the risks may be even higher. Stigma related to their sexual orientation makes this population vulnerable, as they face a unique set of health and health-related concerns. Even though we have moved a long way with the LGBTQ movement, and many adolescents are raised in supportive homes, schools, and social environments, many may still struggle to maintain a healthy developmental trajectory. Several studies have showed that LGBTQ youth experience much riskier health behaviors and also worse health outcomes compared to heterosexual youth (CITE).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2013 there were 113 suicides each day or one every 13 minutes. Although the true number of deaths from suicide may be higher due to some deaths may be recorded as “accidental” (gateway). Adolescent boys 15 to 19 years old had a completed suicide rate that was 3 times greater than females; however, rate of suicide attempts was twice as high among females given that they tend to use less lethal methods (gateway). Equally important, suicide affects youth of all races and socioeconomic groups, including sexual minority youth such as lesbian, gay, bisexuals, and Transgenders (gateway). Also, other high-risk groups may include American Indian and Alaska Natives, rural population, and active or retired military personnel.
Many social workers have had minimal training and preparation in servicing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, and Questioning (LGBTQ) clients. It is not uncommon or unlikely that even the most seasoned practitioner will display some form of negative bias or utilize misinformation with assisting these clients. Because the Universe and the norms are steadily changing and evolving we as social workers must do the same to better assist our clients especially our oppressed populations. This research paper will provide an in depth look at the LGBTQ community, in particular the adolescent victimization of LGBTQ students in a school setting. Research suggests that youth who identify as LGBTQ are at greater risk of suicidal thoughts, suicidal attempts,
The first source, “Suicidality Among Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth,” researches a study of 21,927 sexually active students in the grades 9 through
Suicide. The word catches everyone’s attention; it is the actions leading up to the suicide that goes unnoticed. Unfortunately, the suicide rates continue to increase, and the why remains unknown. In the United States, 44,193 American's died by suicide in 2015 with the state of Kentucky ranking 19th for the highest suicide rates (American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, 2015). In the state of Kentucky, there is a suicide every 12 hours (American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, 2015). Additionally, suicide is the second leading cause of death among the youth population in the state of Kentucky (Kentucky Center for School Safety, 2016). Suicide has the potential to impact everyone without discrimination. Therefore,
Gay teens have significantly higher rates of both attempts and thoughts of suicide. In his study on gay teen suicide, Patrick Healy concluded that gay teens are "five times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers"(2001). As reported in "Lesbian News", "these youth account for 35% of the American population and 15% of all suicide deaths"(Ocamb 2001). Of the 4,000 students who were surveyed in 1997, 40 percent out of the 10 percent of high school students who attempted suicide were gay. For many gay teens their everyday existence can cause severe psychological damage. When they are at school they are taunted and
This week clinical I felt better prepared than I did with my first week. I was able to focus a lot more on interpersonal skills and develop therapeutic relationship with my patients. In terms of Mental Status Examination (MSE), this assessment provided me with a helpful base of information from which to observe changes, progress, and monitor risks. Especially, suicide risk assessment is a gateway to patient treatment and management. The purpose of suicide risk assessment is to identify treatable and modifiable risks and protective factors that inform the patient’s treatment and safety management requirements. I got insight into how important it is to document suicide risk assessments with sufficient information. Documentation of suicide risk assessments facilitates continuity of care and promotes communication between staff members across changing shifts. It is easy for suicidal patients to “fall through the cracks” of a busy psychiatric unit that has rapid patient turnover of admissions and discharges, and mostly during shift change. Asking question such as “What is your view of the future?” or “Do you think things will get better or worse?” helped me to elicit important information regarding patients suicidal ideation. Additionally, how my patients expressed their hope about the future assisted me to identify, prioritize, and integrate risk and protective factors into an overall assessment of the patient’s suicide risk and include in MSE.
Teen suicide is a major problem in our society today. The adolescent suicide rate has tripled since 1960, while being the largest cause of death between the ages of 15 and 24. This is the one single age group that has seen an increase in suicides over the past thirty years. There are about 10,000 reported suicides reported annually. It is estimated however, that the true number of teen suicides is actually three to four times that number when unreported deaths are factored in.
Within families, homophobia can appear in the forms of verbal abuse, physical threats, or physical attack. In a survey of GLBT teens in Rhode Island, 58 per cent of GLBT females reported experiencing these three types of victimization committed by their mothers, 34 per cent by their fathers, 24 per cent by their brothers, and 15 per cent by their sisters. In the same survey, GLBT males accounted 30 per cent victimization by their mothers, 23 per cent by their fathers, 43 per cent by brothers, and 15 per cent by their sisters. The most significant predictors identified as a risk factor of GLBT teen suicide is negative family interactions (Quinn, 2002).
A person’s race, gender and sexuality is also a factor that plays apart in teen suicide. A gay or lesbian teen maybe treated unequal by their peers and even adults because of their preferred sexual
Someone, somewhere, commits suicide every 18 minutes. You might never be able to tell who it will be, it could be the person sitting right next . Statistics reveal that approximately three million youths, between 12-18, have either thought about or attempted suicide in the past year. More than 1/3, actually succeeded.
Youth Suicide Introduction Suicide is a tragic event. It has a profound personal effect on all associated with the person who died. Families, friends and society as a whole are affected. There is a particular poignancy when the suicide is that of a young person at the threshold of life. Australia has the fifth highest suicide rate per 100 000 persons in the world.