Citation

Goldbach JT, Rhoades H, Green D, Fulginiti A, Marshal MP. Crisis 2019; 40(3): 203-208.

Affiliation

3 Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000542

PMID

30109965

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youth are more than twice as likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Although LGBT-specific crisis services have been developed, little is known about the need for these services beyond that of general lifeline services. AIMS: The present study sought to (a) describe the primary reasons for calling a specialized provider as opposed to another and (b) examine sociodemographic differences in the primary reason by race, ethnicity, gender, age, and sexual orientation.

METHOD: Data from 657 youth who sought crisis services from an LGBT-specific national service provider in the United States were assessed. Logistic regression models assessed demographic differences. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses regarding reasons for choosing this LGBT-specific crisis service provider followed a consensus model.

RESULTS: Most respondents indicated they either would not have contacted another helpline (26%) or were not sure (48%). Nearly half (42%) indicated they called specifically because of LGBT-affirming counselors, a reason more commonly reported by gender minority (transgender and gender nonbinary) and queer or pansexual youth than cisgender, gay, or lesbian youth.

CONCLUSION: LGBT-specific crisis services appear to play an important role in suicide prevention. Further research is needed to understand the use of culturally tailored suicide prevention approaches.

Language: en

Keywords

LGBT youth; crisis services; suicide prevention