Mainstream and LGBT healthcare experts gathered recently to discuss suicide risk in the LGBT community.
Co-sponsored by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention ( AFSP ) , Gay and Lesbian Medical Association ( GLMA ) and the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, a first-ever conference took place in Chicago Nov. 8-9 to assess what experts know about the issue, identify the many gaps in knowledge and create a consensus for future initiatives to identify what is needed in terms of prevention and policy.
'Mainstream … has not been attentive,' said AFSP research director Dr. Ann Haas. 'It's kind of like an invisible issue.'
Currently, there is very little data regarding suicide risk in the LGBT community, and very little understanding of specific risk factors among LGBT people. Haas told Windy City Times that the issue simply isn't in the consciences of researchers. However, there is increasing evidence that sexual orientation is a risk factor.
'We don't have really good data,' Haas said. She added that among the statistics out there, 'we don't have a solid foundation.'
When suicide risk in the LGBT community is discussed, a report from the '80s is often cited that claims that 30 percent of LGBT youth attempt suicide, a statistic Haas said is 'not based on really anything.'
This lack of attention leads to gaps, which cause misconceptions and misunderstandings of the LGBT community.
Howard Brown and Northwestern University School of Medicine's Dr. Robert Garofalo believes there is a great need for a deeper understanding of the complexity of data out there. He added that the continual citing of the 30 percent statistic over the past 25 years shows a lack of perception of gay youth. 'It really damages the way people see this population,' he said. 'It says something about the need of youth, but the numbers aren't very helpful.'
All in all, there has been a lot of talk, but no real, concrete statistics to back it up, Haas said. 'Sexual orientation has not really made that mark in research in any field,' Haas said, adding that there is, however, a lot of conversation among a number of gay and lesbian researchers. She wonders if there is perhaps a remaining stigma.
Garofalo added that suicide itself is a very 'complex' issue to study because it is also a 'devastating and private' issue that is also stigmatized and marginalized. Garofalo is a past president of GLMA, and his focus is adolescent medicine.
One of the major problems is that official statistics on suicide deaths don't include information on sexual orientation, making it really difficult to gather clear data.
In addition, research that looks into what might have occurred ( called a psychological autopsy ) is difficult when it comes to youth who might not have disclosed their sexual orientation to anybody yet.
Despite the lack of clear data, there is increasing evidence that sexual orientation is a risk factor, including some data on suicide attempts, which one study shows rates of suicide attempts among LGBT youth that are two to three times higher.
There is also some fairly reliable data on adults, but not older LGBT adults. Such a widespread lack of data and understanding makes it difficult to assess what is needed in terms of prevention and intervention.
Haas was excited to bring AFSP, a mainstream organization, to the conference. 'It's time we bring everyone in the mix here,' she said. Haas plans for the coalition to publish a paper on its recommendations in a mainstream medical journal to help get information out there and take discussions to the next level.
'Research is fine and dandy,' Garofalo said, 'but we need an agenda.'
