Date

3-21-2023

Department

School of Nursing

Degree

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Chair

Folashade Odedina

Keywords

LGBTQ+, adolescents, heterosexual, suicide, suicidal ideations, mental illness

Disciplines

Nursing

Abstract

According to research, young Americans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and more (LGBTQ+) are currently experiencing a mental health crisis. Suicide ideations reportedly begin sooner in LGBQ+ adolescents, 13 to 18 years of age. Suicide ideation is defined by the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI), as having serious thoughts about suicide with a plan. This involves LGBTQ+ adolescents shifting from suicidal ideation to planning more quickly than their heterosexual (straight) peers. Adolescents who identify as LGBTQ+ showed a higher lifetime risk of suicide thoughts than their heterosexual peers (26.1 percent to 13 percent, respectively). Additionally, 5.4 percent of heterosexual adolescents and 16.6 percent of LGBTQ+ adolescents were more likely to contemplate suicide. In addition, compared to 5.4 percent of heterosexual adolescents, LGBTQ+ adolescents had a higher rate of suicide attempts at 12 percent. Research has shown that LGBTQ+ adolescents were more likely to report suicidal thoughts, plans, attempts, and actual suicide at younger ages. Those under the age of 15 exhibited riskier suicidal behaviors than those who were 15 and older. An extensive review of the literature on this topic has revealed that the experiences of having suicidal thoughts and acting on them differ. The research concluded that when compared to heterosexual adolescents, LGBTQ+ adolescents were more likely to act on suicidal thoughts leading to a suicide and mental health crisis among this group in United States.

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