Differences in suicidal behavior in sexual and gender minority populations

Amir Knaani,Lucian Tatsa Laur

doi:10.31083/jomh.2021.118

Abstract

Suicide is a critical public-health issue that remains the leading cause of death among young adults aged 15 to 24. In lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) populations the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions is significantly higher. The effect of natal sex vs. gender identity has not been studied enough as yet. In this study the PubMed-database was searched systematically for articles on the association between gender/sex differences and suicidality. Included were: meta-analyses, systematic and narrative reviews, first-hand observational studies and qualitative studies, published prior to 1 January 2021. Twenty-nine publications were found relevant, the majority on self-harm and suicide attempts and only few on death by suicide. Sexual (29.68%-lifetime) and gender (46.65%) minorities seem more likely to die by suicide than heterosexual/cisgender (14.57%) people. At greatest risk are transgender (56.65%) and bisexual (41.47%) individuals. Most studies reported natal males to be more affected than natal females. The “gender paradox in suicide” does not exist among sex and gender minorities (SGMs), but differences in suicidal behavior exist between the various SGM groups. More research on suicidal behavior among these groups, especially longitudinal research, is necessary.

Highlights

Suicide, suicidal ideation (SI), suicide planning (SP), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempt (SA) are all major public health issues that can be prevented [1,2]
Data from over 75 primary research studies conducted in several countries in Western Europe and in the United States—showing that Sexual and Gender Minorities (SGM) individuals are up to four times more likely to have attempted suicide than heterosexual people were combined into four systematic reviews and meta-analyses [5,6,7,8]
The so-called “gender paradox in suicide” known from studies of cisgender, heterosexual populations does not hold true in SGM groups

Summary

Introduction

Suicidal ideation (SI), suicide planning (SP), non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempt (SA) are all major public health issues that can be prevented [1,2]. Data from over 75 primary research studies conducted in several countries in Western Europe and in the United States—showing that SGM individuals are up to four times more likely to have attempted suicide than heterosexual people were combined into four systematic reviews and meta-analyses [5,6,7,8]. A literature search of the PubMed database for the General Social Survey determined SGM status by taking years 1970–2021 retrieved a total of 91 related articles, 29 into consideration a person’s sexual behavior throughout of which were relevant to the research question The current her or his lifetime, and SGM men were not statistically difreview is narrative rather than systematic in nature, sum- ferent from other men but had lower suicide rates (medium marizing findings described in the selected meta-analyses, effect), whereas SGM women had significantly higher rates narrative reviews, and other studies. Of the other transgender people who had died, 10.8% were registered as men while 67.7% were

Results

Discussion

Factors that reduce the risk of suicidal behavior

Limitations

Conclusions