LGBTQ Resources

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention http://www.afsp.org

AFSP is dedicated to advancing our knowledge of suicide and our ability to prevent it. AFSP’s activities include supporting research projects, providing information and education about suicide and depression, and supporting programs for suicide survivor treatment, research and education.

CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers http://www.lgbtcenters.org

Exists to support the development of strong, sustainable LGBT community centers and to build a unified center movement.

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network http://www.glsen.org

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network strives to assure that each member of every school community is valued and respected regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.

The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health http://www.lgbthealth.net

The National Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health is committed to improving the health and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and communities through public education, coalition building and advocacy that focus on research, policy, education and training.

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays http://www.pflag.org

Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays (PFLAG) is a national non-profit organization with over 200,000 members and supporters and over 500 affiliates in the United States. This vast grassroots network is cultivated, resourced and serviced by the PFLAG national office, located in Washington, DC, the national Board of Directors and 13 Regional Directors.

The Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States http://www.siecus.org

SIECUS – the Sexuality Information and Education Council of the United States – was founded in 1964 to provide education and information about sexuality and sexual and reproductive health.

Soulforce http://www.soulforce.org

“The purpose of Soulforce is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.”

Suicide Prevention Resource Center http://www.sprc.org

The Suicide Prevention Resource center provides prevention support, training, and resources to assist organizations and individuals to develop suicide prevention programs, interventions and policies, and to advance the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. In particular, see http://www.sprc.org/library/SPRC_LGBT_YOUTH.pdf.

The Trevor Project http://www.thetrevorproject.org

The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning youth.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction in the LGBTQ Community https://addictionresource.com/addiction/lgbtq-community/

ADDICTION TO DRUGS OR ALCOHOL IS DANGEROUS FOR THE USER, BUT EQUALLY HARD ON THOSE WHO LOVE HIM OR HER. WATCHING SOMEONE YOU CARE ABOUT STRUGGLE WITH SUBSTANCE ABUSE IS ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS YOU MIGHT HAVE TO GO THROUGH.

As much as 30% of the LGBTQ demographic abuse substances, compared to 9% in the heterosexual population. In most cases, drugs and alcohol are a way for a person to deal with problems in their lives. The fact is – many people within the LGBTQ have to deal with way more problems than the average person. They for one can experience higher levels of stress, social stigmas, and discrimination. Therefore, this leads to much higher substance abuse rates compared to heterosexual people.

Drug Rehab Guide LGBTQ Resources

Research

Race/Ethnicity, Sexual Orientation, and Suicide Risk among Youth
An analysis of Youth Risk Behavior Survey data found that although young people who are lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB, also referred to as “sexual minority” in this article) experience higher levels of several suicide-related risks (including attempts) than their heterosexual peers, such risks differ both by sex and by ethnic/racial group. The authors theorize that cultural values associated with some ethnic identities (e.g. “sanctions against any self-harming behaviors”) may help protect LGB youth against self-harm. The authors also suggest that their findings warn against using overly general categories such as “youths of color” while conducting research or developing interventions.
The six outcomes studied were feeling sad, suicide ideation, suicide plan, suicide attempt, self-harm, and, for youth who had attempted suicide, whether the attempt had led to being treated by a doctor or nurse. LGB youth were found to be three times more likely than heterosexual youth to have attempted suicide in the past year. Among youth who had attempted suicide, LGB youth were significantly more likely than heterosexual youth to have been treated by a doctor or nurse. Female sexual minority youth were at higher risk than male sexual minority youth for all suicide-related behaviors except suicide attempts.
Results by sex and ethnicity/race within the LGB youth group were complex. Asian and black LGB youth reported significantly less ideation, planning, and self-harm than did white LGB youth (in contrast to the lack of difference in risk between Asian and white youth when sexual orientation was not included in the analysis). Native American/Pacific Islander and Latino LGB youth reported significantly more attempts than white LGB youth. Latina sexual minority youth were the only group of girls reporting a higher rate of attempts than white sexual minority females.
Asian and black sexual minority female youth were significantly less likely to have been involved in suicide-related behaviors than their white peers. This relationship did not hold true for male sexual minority youth. Native American/Pacific Islander youth were at greater risk than members of the other racial/ethnic groups on most outcomes regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
The surveys did not ask about transgender status. Thus no conclusions about transgender youth could be drawn. The authors also warned that jurisdictions that collect information on sexual orientation as part of the YRBS generally have a more liberal culture than other jurisdictions. Thus, it is likely that this data analysis underestimates the overall suicide risk among LGB youth in the United States as a whole.
This summary is from: Bostwick, W.B., Meyer, I., Aranda, F., Russell, S., Hughes, T., Birkett, M., and Mustanski, B. (2014). Mental health and suicidality among racially/ethnically diverse sexual minority youths. American Journal of Public Health 104(6); 1129-1136.