Youths with same-sex sexual orientation are twice as likely as their peers to attempt suicide, a new survey reports. Of 458 students who attempted suicide, 15% reported a same-sex 'romantic attraction' or 'romantic relationship', compared with just 7% of adolescents in the whole study population. Stephen Russell (University of California, Davis) and Kara Joyner (Cornell University, Ithaca, New York) assessed data from The National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health Study). The study involved more than 12,000 boys and girls, in grades 7 through 12 (approximately 12 to 18 years old), from 134 schools, a group representative of nearly 22 million students. The adolescents completed self-assessment interviews on suicidality and sexual orientation, including questions on suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and risks, romantic attractions, and relationships.

The authors state that students who described same-sex romantic attractions and relationships were more likely than their peers to report suicidal thoughts (odds ratio of 1.68 for boys, 2.14 girls) and suicide attempts (odds ratio 2.45 boys, 2.48 girls). They explain: 'The strong effect of sexual orientation on suicidal thoughts is mediated by critical youth suicide risk factors, including depression, hopelessness, alcohol abuse, recent suicide attempts by a peer or family member, and experiences of victimization.'

Russell commented: 'Gay kids are at risk not just because they are gay, but because of the other things that are going on in their lives. Being gay just puts these kids at greater risk for other known risk factors for suicide, because for many of these gay kids their school, home and social environments are compromised.'

Am J Public Health 2001; 91: 1276–1281

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