LGBT Suicide Rates [Facts & Statistics]

Suicide rates among LGBT individuals are significantly higher than those among the general population. There are many factors that contribute to these high rates of suicide among the LGBT community, including discrimination, rejection, and marginalization. Many LGBT individuals face discrimination and stigmatization from their families, peers, and society as a whole, which can lead to feelings of isolation, hopelessness, and despair.

We have in this report chosen to focus on the LGBT community and its shocking numbers compared to the general public. We have used mixed methods; meaning gathered both qualitative data as well as quantitative. Qualitative from focus groups and quantitative from a dataset consisting of +65.000 respondents.

Overview

• LGBT persons are 4-5x more likely to have attempted suicide compared to their peers. However, LGBT does not have more completed suicides than the rest of the population

• 70% of suicide attempts happen in the first 5 years of recognizing yourself as LGBT

• Every 50 seconds one person from the LGBT community attempts suicide

• 27% of bisexual attempts suicide, 19% of gay or lesbians attempts suicide, and only 6% of straight attempts suicide

• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people aged 10-24 in the United States

• Around 3.5 million LGBT persons seriously think of committing suicide pr. year. (2.1 million of them are 13-24 years old)

• 21% of LGBT of color compared to 12% of LGBT white attempts suicide

• 50% of LGBT teens (13 – 17 years old) do seriously consider attempting suicide every year. 18% of them did actually try to commit suicide. Which is double as many as “normal” teens in the US (9%).

Depression

• 6 out of 10 LGBT experiences depression

• LGBT persons diagnosed with depression are 8 times more likely to commit suicide compared to LGBT persons with no depression

• Schools that offer social activities reduced the risk of depression and suicide for LGBT youths

Bullying and violence

• 4 out of 10 LGBT youth said they have been bullied. Those who got bullied have 3 times as high a probability of committing suicide the next year.

• 10% got attacked in the school with a weapon (scissors, bottle, keys, etc.)

• 2 out of 10 have experienced rape

• 150% is the number that LGBT students are more probable to drop out of education compared to similar students the same age

Acceptance & Care

• If you have one adult that accepts your sexual orientation you reduce the risk of committing suicide by 40%

• 85% of LGBT adolescents (13 – 24 years old) are looking for mental healthcare last year.

• Parent for LGBT youth: Communicate more with them and Respect their decision

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

We have in this section tried to give you a quick introduction to what LGBT is. We know that there are a lot of different definitions available online. So ours take the point of departure as the most common way of understanding it.

Who has the highest adult suicide rates in LGBT?

Our data show that certain subgroups within the LGBT community have higher rates of suicide compared to the general population. The highest rates of suicide are among transgender and nonbinary individuals, particularly those who also experience other forms of marginalization or discrimination such as racism or ableism.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals have higher rates of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts compared to the general population but may not have higher rates of completed suicides. However, it is important to note that suicide and mental health are complex issues that cannot be attributed to a single factor or identity and that many factors can contribute to suicidal ideation and behavior.

What does LGBT stand for?

LGBT stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender. It is a term used to represent the diverse range of sexual orientations and gender identities within the LGBTQ+ community. The acronym is sometimes expanded to include other identities, such as queer (LGBTQ), intersex (LGBTI), and asexual (LGBTA), among others.

What percentage of people are LGBT?

It’s difficult to say the exact percentage of people who identify as LGBT because sexual orientation and gender identity are personal and often private aspects of one’s identity. However, it’s estimated that approximately 2% to 10% of people identify as LGBT. The exact percentage may vary depending on factors such as cultural attitudes, social acceptance, and the methods used to collect data.

When did LGBT start?

The experiences of people who would now be understood as part of the LGBT community have existed throughout human history, but the concept of an organized LGBT community is a more recent development.

The modern LGBT rights movement in the United States began in the late 1960s, after the police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City, in June 1969. This event sparked protests and demonstrations, led by LGBT people and their allies, that continued for several days. The Stonewall riots are often seen as a turning point in the LGBT rights movement and the beginning of a more organized and visible push for legal and social recognition of LGBT people.

Since then, the LGBT rights movement has gained momentum and support worldwide, leading to legal and social changes such as the decriminalization of homosexuality.