Suicidal Behavior and Gay-Related Stress Among gay and Bisexual Male Adolescents

In contrast to rates among adolescents in community-based studies, attempted suicide was reported by 39% of a consecutive series of 138 self-identified gay & bisexual males, age 14-19, presenting at a social service agency for lesbian & gay adolescents in New York City. More than one-half of attempters had tried to kill themselves more than once, & suicide attempters were more likely to have dropped out of school, to be ejected from their homes, & to have friends or relatives who had attempted suicide. Gay-related stressors were significantly more common among suicide attempters as compared to nonattempters, but general life stress was not higher. (41 refs.)