Suicide and Violence Prevention Among Lgbtq Community Essay Example

steadily and has been attributed to the fact that adults LGBTQ population perseveres persecution due to legal condemnation and discriminatory fear instances that arise as they are most likely to have no children to provide support for them. This paper, therefore, aims at describing the general context of Suicide among the LGBTQ population and provides its relevance among the youth in specific.

The LGBTQ Population

First, Haas et al., (2011), describe sexual minorities with two distinct characteristics; sexual orientation and gender identity whereby sexual orientation is defined as possessing dimensions such as sexual identification, behavior, and attraction. Further, an individual revealing their sexual orientation identify themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or heterosexual. On the other hand, gender identity is described as an individual internal perception of masculinity or femininity. Still, Haas et al., (2011,) state that “gender identity involves graduations of masculinity and femininity, maleness, and femaleness as well as identification as neither essentially as males nor females.” (pg. 14). In this regard, transgender is the designation to describe individuals having gender identities, behaviors, and expression which contradict with their gender at birth.

Data collected on the US population by Haas et al., (2011) indicate that 3% of students in grade level 9-12 identify themselves as being lesbian, gay or transgender. Further, with age increase, 3.2% of the youth population with the age range of 18-26 years have already come out by revealing their sexual identity as gay, lesbian or transgender with the number of females being more by 3.6% compared to 2.6% in males. Still, various sophisticated methods are being adopted to reveal the current prevalence of the LGBT population through consolidating and validating information from the

multiple national surveys.

Suicidal Rates Among the Youth LGBT Population

According to statistical data given by Rao et al., (2015), it is clear that more than 1000 students at college level commit suicide very year. Additionally, the rates of completed suicide rates between 0.5-7.5 per 100,000 within the college students. Further, suicidal rates have been increasing tremendously over the years. For instance, suicide has been rated as the highest cause of death among the college students in the year 2011, and this was after rising from third in 2004 and second in 2009 (Rao et al., 2015). 75% of the recorded suicidal instances are attributed to sexual orientation (Rao et al., 2015). This initially happens whenever the LGBT individual comes out to either his/her peers or family. At that point in life, the individual will face pressure from the family and peers due to lack of acceptance triggering him/her to suicidal thoughts, resulting in attempts. Rao et al., (2015), explains that cases of depression as well as mental disorders has increased the risks for both suicidal attempts and completed suicide among the youths. With the various roles youth play towards contributing to the social welfare of the society, it becomes of concern of how youths are ending their lives over an issue which can be prevented through various intervention strategies. By analyzing the increasing rates of suicide due to sexual orientation beliefs among the youth will give the relevance of striving towards creating a conducive environment for the marginalized population.

Causes of Suicide Among the Youths

Various factors drive most youth to suicidal thoughts, attempts and deaths most which are influenced by the peers either at school or work

and majorly family members.

Victimization

This is mostly evident in youth in school as they experience cases of physical assault, bullying as well harassment due to their sexual orientation. Robinson & Espelage, (2013), stress that victimization can lead to serious sexual disparities due to peer victimization, parent physical assault and to extremity childhood sexual abuse. Youth experiencing victimization will probably develop risky sexual behaviors. These behaviors manifest as a result of increased feeling of isolation driving them to sexual fulfillment and worse still psychological distress making them engage in unprotected sex, which often lead to diseases like HIV/AIDS increasing their distress and finally opting for death. In relation to bullying, Robinson & Espelage, (2013), explain that most students experience bullying from their peers through the internet or mobile messages, regarding their sexual orientation (being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning), how they appear and finally based on their race or ethnicities. As an LGBTQ youth, bullying in school is inevitable, and most of the students end up feeling isolated thus developing suicidal behaviors leading to attempts and deaths.

In a different study by Wielderhold, (2014), the results suggests that the group experiencing the most cyberbullying cases are the LGBTQ youth population. The author further gives a case where a college student jumped to his death off a high bridge after his roommate and classmate posted on Twitter his video with his boyfriend kissing. To make the situation worse, his friends went on to mobilize all friends and mocked them. It is, therefore, a fact that cyberbullying has become more common among the LGBTQ youth, and the experience has recorded lethal mental health consequences. Further, Wielderhold, (2014) reveals that

among the 54% of youth experiencing cyberbullying, 45% were from the LGBTQ population. The LGBTQ youth responded that they frequently feel depressed when criticized and mocked on a social platform which has the biggest audience, making them consider suicide.

Stigma and Discrimination

Stigma which is described as negative, unfair beliefs and discrimination (unequal treatment of a group of people) against the LGBTQ population affects their health. People having negative attitudes and actions towards the population leads to family or friend’s rejection and policies with negative consequences. Haas et al., (2011), categorizes discrimination into individual and institutional discrimination. LGBTQ youth experience individual discrimination as a personal rejection, harassment, bullying and physical assault. Experiencing negative attitudes from close friends and family due to sexual orientation increases the rates of depression and lowers their self-esteem. These negative attitudes drive them to suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation is personal thoughts to engage in suicidal behaviors. Thoughts of suicide involve the development of a suicidal plan and finally committing suicide. Besides, suicidal ideations are great indicators to completed suicide as it is most likely that individual thinking about committing suicide might end up actualizing their acts and finally die.

LGBTQ individuals still experience institutional discrimination. According to Cramer et al. (2011), prejudice and discrimination have become prominent mostly in the United States due to the support it is gaining from religious denominations, government institutions, and various societal movements. At most times, religious denominations condemn acts of LGBTQ judging them as sinful. Due to their influence on the society, more people view the community as sinners creating negative attitudes and actions. Apart from that, government institutions such as the legal systems which are expected to

provide protection for the community, still support through development of discriminatory laws and failing to enforce laws against discrimination in settings like housing. Also, healthcare service has become discriminatory in providing services to the LGBTQ population increasing the level of psychological distress contributing to the increasing suicidal rates.

Family Rejection

LGBTQ individually is likely to experience rejection especially when the family is strict on heterosexuals. At this point, the individual faces psychological and verbal attacks from their family which results to him/her to move out of their homes. The act of leaving their home increases feelings of isolation and depression which eventually leads to suicide. Given the fact that the youth population is the most affected by all the risk factors making them develop suicidal ideation which eventually lead to completed suicide cases, it will be noble for the adoption of intervention strategies to rescue the increasing numbers. In addition, by realizing the impact which these risk factors are bringing the LGBTQ population will bring the relevance for support. To start with, Haas et al., (2011) suggest that, the various religious institution should take up the challenge and influence their audience to love one another regardless of their sexual orientation. Besides, awareness programs through different societal movements should strive to work in support of the LGBTQ population by giving them opportunities to work together so as to make them feel helpful and appreciated by the community at large. Still, training programs and awareness will be equally important in a school setting such that all students will be informed that sexual orientation should not define how they should treat one another. Through various intervention programs both from governmental

and local sectors, it is definite that LGBTQ population will live happy, free from violence and discrimination. They will eventually value the quality of life and further encourage other people into living in their true-self.

References

1. Cramer, R.J et al. (2015). A Moderated Mediation Analysis of Suicide Proneness among Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Community Members. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, Vol. 34, No. 7, 2015, pp. 622-642. DOI: 10.1521/jscp.2015.34.7.622.
2. Robinson, J. P & Espelage, D. L. (2013) American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 103 Issue 10, p1810-1819. DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2013.301387.
3. Hass, A.P et al. (2011). Suicide and Suicide Risk in Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Populations: Review and Recommendations. J Homosex. 2011 Vol. 58(1): 10–51.  doi:  10.1080/00918369.2011.534038.
4. Wiederhold, B. K.  (2014) Cyber Psychology, Behavior & Social Networking. Vol. 17 Issue 9, p569-570. DOI: 10.1089/cyber.
   RAO, S. P et al. (2015). College Student Journal. Summer2015, Vol. 49 Issue 2, p217-224