Transgender Youths At Risk For Suicide
Because sexual and gender identity can be a risk factor for suicide, it is important to understand how sexual and gender identity can affect one’s behavioral and mental health (Grossman and D’Augelli, 2007). There are many factors that may contribute to suicidal behaviors among transgender youths. In their study, Grossman and D’Augelli (2007) examine the factors that relate to the cause of suicide attempts made by transgender youth. Because there were no prior studies on transgender youth and life-threatening risk factors, Grossman and D’Augelli (2007) designed this experimental study to explore the correlation of risk factors of suicide with transgender identity.
Research Question
Hypothesis
Method
…show more content…
For this study, 55 transgender youths in the age group of 15 to 21 were asked questionnaires that covered four parts: suicidal behaviors or thoughts, gender nonconformity identity, parental action, self-assessment of body image (Grossman & D’Augelli, 2007). Among the 55 youths in the sample group, there were 31 MTF (a male to a female) and 24 FTM (a female to a male) transgender youths. The participants varied by ethnicity, race, age, education, and family background. The transgender youth participants were offered $30 for their time to participate in this study. The study utilized seven variables to understand the relationship between risk factors and suicide attempts among transgender youths. Grossman and D’Augelli (2007) identified these seven factors: childhood gender nonconformity, suicidal ideation related to transgender identity, verbal attack from parents, physical abuse from parents, satisfaction with own physical appearance, satisfaction with weight, and one’s perception of how others view oneself. These variables were compared to those who had a history of suicide attempts and those who had no life-threatening behaviors. This comparison establishes the relationship between such risk factors playing
The first source, “Suicidality Among Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Youth,” researches a study of 21,927 sexually active students in the grades 9 through
This is in direct correlation with the increased probability of mental illnesses in the transgender population. Traditional views certainly do not help as many transgender citizens are told they are “sick” because of their difference with many religious and personal beliefs. A study from Boston published earlier this year in the Journal of Adolescent Health, reported that transsexual youth had two to three times increased risk of psychiatric disorders, including depression, anxiety disorder, suicidal ideation, suicide attempt, self-harm without lethal intent, and both inpatient and outpatient mental health treatment. These statistics show the clear consequences of mental health transgenders are facing if transgender rights continues to be unregulated. It is essential that the federal government steps in to take action in order to make sure things do not continue on this downwards path.
Classrooms, consisting of 9th-through-12th graders from racially and ethnically diverse backgrounds, were randomly sampled to complete the Boston Youth Survey. The correlation research study excluded schools that served adults, previously incarcerated students, suspended students, and severely disabled students to minimize introduction of confounding variables. Participants in the Boston Youth Survey (BYS) were asked specifically with regards to their individual-level sexual orientation and suicidal ideation and attempts among other questions. Of the 2725 individuals sampled, 1878 completed the survey and were asked, on the sexual orientation item in the BYS questionnaire, to identify themselves with 1 of 6 categories that best described themselves: (1) completely heterosexual, (2) mostly heterosexual, (3) bisexual, (4) mostly homosexual, (5) completely homosexual (i.e., gay or lesbian), or (6) not sure. Respondents were then asked explicitly "Have you seriously considered attempting suicide?" and "Have you actually attempted suicide? [within the 12 months preceding survey administration]" with yes and no response options for those questions (Duncan & Hatzenbuehler, 2014). To test their hypothesis, researchers then obtained LGBT hate crimes data with help from the Boston Police Department Community Disorders Unit and linked the community information to
LGBTQ youth in particular are at high risk for suicide attempts and completions. In the largest national survey of transgender adults to date,
LGBT population have higher rates of depression among the youth. Statistics of depression compared between LGBT and the general population in Australia depicts that 57.2% of transgender and gender diverse were diagnosed of depression and 11.6 % had experience depression in their lifetime respectively (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2007). Moreover, mental health among the LGBT is known to be poor in Australia as 36.2% of transgender and 24.4% of gay, lesbians and bisexual Australians met the scale of having major depression in 2005, and 6.8% when compared to the general population. Dejection among transgender women (male to female) under age 30 was on a high rate in La Trobe university study constitute
In the United States Transgender women (individuals who are sex-assigned male at birth but identify as female) experience high rates of severe depression due to pervasive discrimination that they face in society. According to Hoffman (2014), when compared to the general population, Transgender individuals experience much higher rates of depression with estimates as high as 62% (as cited in Clements-Noel, Marx, Guzman, and Katz, 2001). Due to these high rates of depression, Transgender women are at increased risk for overall negative health outcomes, which severely limits them from living happy, healthy, and productive lives. According to studies by Nemoto, Operario, Keatley, Nguyen, and Sugano, (2005) there is a growing understanding of the
Over thirty percent of adult and young adult transgender individuals have attempted suicide in 2014, according to suicidology.com, so creating an accepting and encouraging environment is vital for transgender people thrive.
This states that a majority of transgender people have attempted suicide. Suicide in the transgender world is seen many times when speaking of discrimination. Many transgender teens think of suicide or commit suicide because they are targeted or even bullied because of their way of expression what they feel is their true gender. Transgender or transsexual also chose or attempt suicide because they are abandoned by their families or are forced out of their homes. But they do not just choose to commit suicide but also allow themselves to be addicted to drugs of many sorts. This can cause many transgender or transsexual people to consider suicide. These factors are due to discrimination or negate of protection of a transsexual or transgender person. Many transgender people have chosen to fight for rights in many sorts of ways. But because of their birth given gender, there is not many things that can be done by parents or even teachers.This is a violation of the seventh amendment because many choose to see that transgender or transsexual people choose to make themselves targets of bullying of hate crimes. This can be the main reason many students stay silent and let themselves be discriminated without telling others because they start to believe that their own thoughts are
Suicide is a health problem in the U.S. today. The LGBTQ teens are said to be twice as likely to commit suicide then heterosexual teens. It is stated that not all suicide attempts are a facet of the person being Gay, BI, or transgender. However, many factors can contribute to suicide, such as: hopelessness, major depression, impulsivity, past suicide attempts, conduct disorder, victimization, or rejection. Hence, the risk is higher for rejected youths well into their adulthood. I think the factors that make the LGBTQ teens more risk for suicide is bullying, cyberbullying, self-identification or loss of friendships due their sexual identifications, or orientation, and rejection from their peers, or rejection from their parents/families. Support
Transgender individuals are at higher risk for “certain chronic diseases, cancers, and mental health problems (Vanderbilt University, 2017).” Transgender individuals who consume cross-sex hormones, and undergo sex-reassignment surgery have a greater risk for depression, anxiety, STDs, mental health issues, suicide attempts, victimization, and substance abuse (Grant, Mottet, Tanis, 2011), additionally, they usually do not have health insurance (Makadon, 2017). Furthermore, HIV rates are reported “over four times the national average of HIV infection, with higher rates among transgender people of color (Grant, Mottet, Tanis, 2011).”
Gender dysphoria is one of the characterizing aspects of being transgender, and while not all transgender people experience this, for those who do mental health often suffers; for this reason many consider medical treatment necessary to improve their well-being. Gender dysphoria, as described by the DSM-5, “manifests in a variety of ways, including strong desires to be treated as the other gender or to be rid of one’s sex characteristics” (Kupfer). It’s often accompanied with distress, which can lead to depression, anxiety, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts. In fact, suicide is all too common in transgender people. A survey of over 6,000 transgender people done in 2010 found that 41% had attempted suicide at some point in their lives (Grant 82). This high number is a trend that continues to be reflected in other surveys, such as one in
LGBTQ youth are also at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, suicide attempts, and suicide. A nationally representative study of adolescents in grades 7–12 found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers. More studies are needed to better understand the risks for suicide among transgender youth. However, one study with 55 transgender youth found that about 25% reported suicide
This study assessed individual structural forms of stigma as risk factors for suicide attempts among transgender adults. Internalized transphobia was analyzed through a combination of results such as a 26-item scale including four dimensions: pride, passing, alienation, and shame. State-level statistical structural stigma was operationalized as a composite index. Outsourcing a multivariable logistic generalized estimating equation models assessed associations of interest among an online sample of transgender adults (N= 1,229) representing 48 states and the District of Columbia. This is a helpful source for current stigma at multiple levels in order to reduce the vulnerability of
The biggest factor that needs to be understood, addressed, and dealt with is the rate of suicide of transgender students. Transgender students in high school and college are more likely to attempt suicide at a point in their life if they are not offered gender appropriate programming, housing, bathrooms and locker rooms, counseling, health care, and having name changes on records and documents. There have been countless times that I have gone into the women’s restroom, because I am not fully transitioned and I know that I do not pass as well as I would like to, and I get a mean look or someone tells me I’m in the wrong restroom. I have been at work cleaning the restrooms and a women asks me to leave so she may use the restroom, because she
Over the past decade, there has been a growing body of research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. Compared to their heterosexual peers, sexual minority (LGBT) youth struggle significantly, as they try to navigate through the social stigma attached to their sexual orientation. This population faces significant struggles due to a lack of social support, a hostile school environment, and incidences of bullying, harassment, and physical abuse. Compared to their heterosexual peers, sexual minority youth report experiencing more harassment and discrimination, due to their sexual orientation or gender expression. These experiences also include verbal and physical harassment, sexual harassment, isolation from peers, and difficulty