Comparison of Lifetime Suicide Attempts and Recent Suicidal/Self-Harming Thoughts Among Sexual Minority and Heterosexual Utahns: Results from a Population-Based Survey

Abstract

Objective

We sought to be the first published article to report differences in population-representative prevalence of suicidal thoughts and attempts by sexual orientation.

Method

Data from Utah’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) collected for 2016 (N = 10,988) and 2017 (N = 10,251) were examined to determine differences in the prevalence of suicidal thoughts in the past 2 weeks and the lifetime prevalence of suicide attempts (i.e., any, single, and multiple) by sexual orientation.

Results

3.5% of heterosexuals Utahns reported recent suicidal/self-harming thoughts in the last 2 weeks compared to 14.7% of LGB Utahns (OR = 4.73 95% CI [2.67, 8.36]). 5.8% of heterosexuals reported a lifetime prevalence of any suicidal attempts compared to 37.2% of LGB folx (OR = 9.58 95% CI [7.16, 12.81]) with similar differences occurring for single and multiple attempts. Comparing LG versus B, there was no difference in ideation or prevalence of any attempt, but bisexuals reported higher rates of multiple suicide attempts.

Conclusion

LGB folx in Utah are drastically more likely to have thought about suicide/self-harming in the last 2 weeks and to have attempted suicide in their lifetime when compared to heterosexuals in Utah.

Keywords:

• BRFSS
• LGBT
• Utah

Additional information

Notes on contributors

James S. McGraw

James S. McGraw, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.

Samuel O. Peer

Samuel O. Peer, Stephanie McManimen, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho.

Stephanie McManimen

Samuel O. Peer, Stephanie McManimen, Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho.

Jessica Chinn

Jessica Chinn and Annette Mahoney, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.

Annette Mahoney

Jessica Chinn and Annette Mahoney, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA.