Suicide Risk Factors among LGBTQ Youth: Review

Suicide is a tragic and costly yet preventable issue in public health that affects people of all races, ethnicities, ages, genders, and sexual orientation in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide. Over the years, suicide has remained the third leading cause of death for youths between 15-24 years of age in the U.S [1]. Suicide and selfinflicting injurious behaviors in LGBTQ adolescents are associated with mental health challenges that include lack of acceptance from peers, discrimination, family rejection, and school failure. The purpose of this article is to report current suicide statistics by demographics, discuss suicide risk and protective factors, and review prevention strategies and intervention efforts.