Suicide Attempts Among Sexual-Minority Youths: Population and Measurement Issues

2 questions were addressed regarding suicide attempts among sexual-minority youths: who should be classified as sexual minority, & what constitutes a suicide attempt? Results from 2 studies indicated that sexual-minority youths, broadly defined in terms of sexual orientation & recruitment venue, were slightly more likely than heterosexual youths to report a suicide attempt. To afford a more accurate assessment of suicide attempts, a detailed measure distinguished true from false attempts. This method eliminated over half of suicide attempt reports among sexual minorities because they were false attempts- ideation rather than a concrete act to end life. Many true attempts were not life threatening, suggesting that reports were attempts to communicate the hardships of lives or to identify with a gay community. (55 refs)