A Retrospective Examination of Completed Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Suicides in the United States: What Can Be Learned from Written Online Media?

Abstract

Due to several high profile suicides and increased social acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) persons in the United States, significant media attention has focused on the occurrence of and factors that contribute to sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY) suicide. Although previous research has established an increased likelihood of suicidal ideation among SGMY, no data exist on completed SGMY suicides in the United States or subsequent media coverage. This study examines variables related to completed SGMY suicides in the United States from written electronic media (N = 78) reports from 2004–12 using a mixed-method content analysis. Qualitative results indicate the presence of three major content domains: warning signs, denial of the problem, and conflicting reports. Quantitative results suggest a lack of contextual information but also increased media citation of prevention resources between 2010 and 2012. Clinical and public health implications of SGMY suicide media coverage are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• LGBT
• sexual minority
• gender minority
• youth
• suicide
• media
• bullying

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge Alicia Fitzpatrick and Alexandra Macedo for their help with data collection.

Notes

1. Trans* is a common term in popular gender-variant taxonomy that refers to all possible variations of gender identity that do not fall within the gender binary. Examples include gender queer, transgender, two-spirit, and transmasculine, among many more.