Peer support as a protective factor against suicide in trans populations: A scoping review

Rationale There is a growing body of research involving transgender (trans) individuals that foregrounds elevated rates of suicidality in trans populations. Although peer support is increasingly studied as a protective factor against suicide among trans persons, the scholarship in this area continues to be limited and has yet to be synthesized and appraised. Objective In this paper, […]

Suicidality among gender minority youth: Analysis of 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data

We examined differences in suicidality based on gender identity while adjusting for known suicide risk factors in a sample of United States adolescents. Using data from the 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey we used logistic regression models to examine three suicide-related outcomes. Youth were categorized as transgender (1.3%), gender-questioning (1.4%), or cisgender (97.3%). In fully […]

Suicide, homicide, and all-cause mortality among transgender and cisgender patients in the Veterans Health Administration

Purpose: This study examines the differences in suicide, homicide, and all-cause mortality between transgender and cisgender Veterans Health Administration (VHA) patients. Methods: VHA electronic medical record data from October 1, 1999 to December 31, 2016 were used to create a sample of transgender and cisgender patients (n = 32,441). Cox proportional hazard regression was used to evaluate differences in […]

Factors associated with suicide attempts among Australian transgender adults

Background Transgender, including gender diverse and non-binary people, henceforth referred to collectively as trans people, are a highly marginalised population with alarming rates of suicidal ideation, attempted suicide and self-harm. We aimed to understand the risk and protective factors of a lifetime history of attempted suicide in a community sample of Australian trans adults to […]

Self-harm prevalence and ideation in a community sample of cis, trans and other youth

Background: Trans youth have been reported to have high rates of self-harm, depression and bullying, and find it difficult to seek support. However, much of this research comes from gender identity clinics; non-clinical samples and those who reject gender binaries remain under-researched. Aims: This study investigated the experiences of a community school-based sample of Trans, identifying youth, […]

Suicide attempts among a cohort of transgender and gender diverse people

Introduction Transgender and gender diverse people often face discrimination and may experience disproportionate emotional distress that leads to suicide attempts. Therefore, it is essential to estimate the frequency and potential determinants of suicide attempts among transgender and gender diverse individuals. Methods Longitudinal data on 6,327 transgender and gender diverse individuals enrolled in 3 integrated healthcare […]

Experiences of suicide in transgender youth: A qualitative, community-based study

Objective: The aim was to develop understanding around the experience of suicide in transgender youth. Method: Qualitative analysis with 85 interviews with transgender youth about their histories with suicidality was performed. Participants were recruited from community clinics in three counties (United States, Canada, and Ireland) between 2010 and 2014. Results: Factors that precipitated participants’ suicide attempts included rejection based on […]

Suicide exposure in transgender and gender diverse adults

Objective The purpose of this study is to examine the psychological effects of suicide exposure for Transgender and Gender Diverse (TGD) adults. Method Using data from a national online survey of 2,784 self-identified TGD adults, the current study investigated the prevalence of suicide death and suicide attempt exposure and demographic and mental health correlates. Results […]

Associations between recalled exposure to gender identity conversion efforts and psychological distress and suicide attempts among transgender adults.

Importance  Gender identity conversion efforts (GICE) have been widely debated as potentially damaging treatment approaches for transgender persons. The association of GICE with mental health outcomes, however, remains largely unknown. Objective  To evaluate associations between recalled exposure to GICE (by a secular or religious professional) and adult mental health outcomes. Design, Setting, and Participants  In this cross-sectional study, […]

Suicidal disparities between transgender and cisgender adolescents

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Emerging evidence indicates transgender adolescents (TGAs) exhibit elevated rates of suicidal ideation and attempt compared with cisgender adolescents (CGAs). Less is known about risk among subgroups of TGAs because of limited measures of gender identity in previous studies. We examined disparities in suicidality across the full spectrum of suicidality between TGAs and CGAs […]

Transgender adolescent suicide behavior

OBJECTIVES: Our primary objective was to examine prevalence rates of suicide behavior across 6 gender identity groups: female; male; transgender, male to female; transgender, female to male; transgender, not exclusively male or female; and questioning. Our secondary objective was to examine variability in the associations between key sociodemographic characteristics and suicide behavior across gender identity groups. […]

Risk and protective factors for self-harm in a population-based sample of transgender youth

This study sought to identify factors distinguishing transgender/gender non-conforming (GNC) adolescents across three groups: no self-harm, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) only, and NSSI and suicide attempt (NSSI + SA). Data were from the 2016 Minnesota Student Survey. The final analytic sample included 1,635 transgender/GNC students in grades 9 and 11. Logistic regression analyses determined factors that best distinguished […]

Current and military-specific gender minority stress factors and their relationship with suicide ideation in transgender veterans

Research suggests the prevalence of suicide ideation and suicide attempts in the transgender veteran community may be upwards of 20 times higher than nontransgender veterans, who are known to be at increased risk than the general US population. This study aimed to understand the potential influence of external and internal minority stress experienced during and […]

Transgender women’s experiences with stigma, trauma, and attempted suicide in the Dominican Republic

Studies on attempted suicide in transgender populations, particularly those in resource-limited settings, are scarce. We examined the relationships between stigma, trauma, and suicide attempts in a national sample of transgender women from the Dominican Republic. Bivariate analysis examined differences between suicide attempters and nonattempters (n = 298). Multivariate analysis reported odds ratios with attempted suicide as the […]

Exploring cross-sectional predictors of suicide ideation, attempt, and risk in a large online sample of transgender and gender nonconforming youth and young adults

Purpose: Rates of suicide ideation and attempt appear to be particularly high in the transgender and gender nonconforming (TGNC) population, yet little is known about which factors are the most salient contributors for TGNC young people and how these contributors vary across suicide-related outcomes. Methods: Within the largest sample of TGNC young people to date (N = 1896; ages […]

Norms and normalization: Understanding lesbian, gay, transgender and queer youth, sucidality and help-seeking.

Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and queer transgender have elevated rates of suicidality. Despite the increased risk, there is a paucity of research on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer help-seeking and suicidality. We report on a UK sequential exploratory, two-stage, mixed-method study. Stage 1 involved 29 online and face-to-face semi-structured interviews […]

Suicide risk in the UK trans population and the role of gender transition in decreasing suicidal ideation and suicide attempt

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present findings from the Trans Mental Health Study (McNeil et al., 2012) – the largest survey of the UK trans population to date and the first to explore trans mental health and well-being within a UK context. Findings around suicidal ideation and suicide attempt are presented and […]

Correlates of suicide ideation and behaviors among transgender people: A systematic review guided by ideation-to-action theory.

Transgender people are at high risk for suicide ideation, attempts, and deaths compared to the general population. Several correlates of suicide ideation and attempts have been identified empirically to understand this increased risk. However, few attempts have been made to systematically review this literature. Further, a theory to understand and identify targetable factors for intervention […]

Chosen name use is linked to reduced depressive symptoms, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior among transgender youth.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the relation between chosen name use, as a proxy for youths’ gender affirmation in various contexts, and mental health among transgender youth. METHODS: Data come from a community cohort sample of 129 transgender and gender nonconforming youth from three U.S. cities. We assessed chosen name use across multiple contexts […]

Being safe, being me: Results of the Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey.

The Canadian Trans Youth Health Survey was a national on-line survey conducted by researchers from several Canadian universities and community organizations. The survey had 923 trans youth participants from all 10 provinces and one of the territories. The survey included somewhat different questions for younger (14-18 years) and older (19-25 years) trans youth about a wide range of […]

Being safe, being me in Alberta: Results of the Canadian trans youth health survey.

A new national study by SARAVYC shows that while Canada’s transgender youth face significant physical and mental health issues, strong family, school and community connections are helping many of them navigate these challenges. The study, funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Research and completed in collaboration with universities and health researchers across Canada, is […]

Transgender noninclusive healthcare and delaying care because of fear: Connections to general health and mental health among transgender adults.

Purpose: There are many barriers to reliable healthcare for transgender people that often contribute to delaying or avoiding needed medical care. Yet, few studies have examined whether noninclusive healthcare and delaying needed medical care because of fear of discrimination are associated with poorer health among transgender adults. This study aims to address these gaps in the […]

Suicidality, self-harm, and body dissatisfaction in transgender adolescents and emerging adults with gender dysphoria.

Prevalence of suicide attempts, self-injurious behaviors, and associated psychosocial factors were examined in a clinical sample of transgender (TG) adolescents and emerging adults (n = 96). Twenty-seven (30.3%) TG youth reported a history of at least one suicide attempt and 40 (41.8%) reported a history of self-injurious behaviors. There was a higher frequency of suicide attempts in […]