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Concerning Study: Bisexual Women Exhibit Tripled Suicide Attempt Rates
A newly released study has concluded that bisexual women exhibit a more than triple likelihood to attempt suicide in contrast to their heterosexual counterparts. The research, which was based on survey data combined with health records of 123,000 individuals, further found gay men and women to have double the suicide attempt rates compared to heterosexual individuals. These findings underline an urgent necessity for enhanced mental health assistance within the LGBTQ+ community.
The comprehensive study, conducted by a research team at York University and ICES, reported on the alarmingly heightened suicide-related behavior (SRB) rates amongst sexual minority groups. This includes both fatal and non-fatal attempts, which are observed to be double amongst gay men and lesbians in comparison to heterosexual individuals. These critical findings stress the importance of improved mental health support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The principal investigator, Antony Chum, assistant professor in the Faculty of Health at York University and Canada Research Chair in Population Health Data Science, noted the study’s intention: “We aimed to more precisely define the difference in suicide-related behaviors across sexual orientations and gender.” Chum, also an adjunct scientist at ICES, pointed out that previous studies relied primarily on self-reported data from surveys, leaving gaps regarding individuals too ill to participate or who have committed suicide.
Published in the American Journal of Psychiatry, the study utilized data from Ontario participants of the Canadian Community Health Survey. This data was cross-referenced with anonymous administrative health data, including records of emergency room visits or hospitalizations related to non-fatal self-harm and fatal suicide events from 2002 to 2019.
Among the researchers were York University postdoctoral fellows Gabriel John Dusing and Chungah Kim. Their findings indicated:
- The overall incidence of one or more SRB events was approximately two percent for heterosexual individuals, five percent for gay/lesbian individuals, and eight percent for bisexual individuals.
- Individuals from sexual minority groups were at an increased risk of SRB events, with likelihoods ranging from 2.10 to 4.23 times that of heterosexual people.
- Once adjusted for age and gender, the risk of an SRB event was found to be more than three times greater for bisexual individuals, with this risk most significant for bisexual women.
Chum hypothesized that the escalated risk for bisexual women might be related to increased discrimination within the LGBTQ+ community, as well as the amplified rates of violence, trauma, and caregiving burden bisexual women may face in opposite-sex relationships.
While the study could not include data for non-binary individuals or sexual orientations like asexual and queer, it still represents a breakthrough in using a large representative sample linked with medical records. This increases the findings’ applicability to other regions and populations.
Chum stated, “This research demonstrates a significant need for enhanced funding, policy, and programs to address LGBTQ+ suicide risk. Training for healthcare workers to deal with LGBTQ+ suicide risk also needs to be expanded. We urge hospitals and clinics to integrate sexual orientation data into regular patient care.”
Furthermore, Chum highlighted the encroachment of healthcare privatization and advocated for a broad increase in publicly funded mental health supports, not only for the LGBTQ+ population but across all demographics.
This study adds to the authors’ related research published earlier this year in PLOS One. That study found both sexual minority status and living in under-resourced neighborhoods with limited healthcare access as independent risk factors for suicide-related behaviors. Future research is expected to explore interventions that enhance the mental health of LGBTQ+ individuals and address societal health determinants, such as neighborhood-level disparities and obstacles to healthcare access.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Bisexual Women’s Suicide Rates
What was the main finding of the recent study on suicide rates within the LGBTQ+ community?
The main finding was that bisexual women are over three times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual counterparts. Also, gay men and women were twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to heterosexual individuals.
Which groups were particularly affected by high suicide-related behavior rates?
Bisexual women, gay men, and lesbians showed particularly high rates of suicide-related behavior. The risk was more than three times greater for bisexual individuals, with this risk being most pronounced for bisexual women.
What was the data source for this study?
The study utilized data from the Canadian Community Health Survey of Ontario participants, which was cross-referenced with anonymous administrative health data. This included records of emergency room visits or hospitalizations for non-fatal self-harm and fatal suicide events from 2002 to 2019.
What was a significant limitation of this study?
A major limitation was the lack of data for non-binary individuals and for sexual orientations such as asexual and queer.
What improvements are recommended based on the study findings?
The study advocates for enhanced funding, policy changes, and programs to address the high suicide risk in the LGBTQ+ community. It also recommends increased training for healthcare workers to deal with LGBTQ+ suicide risk and encourages the inclusion of sexual orientation data in routine patient care.
5 comments
Wow, this is really troubling. We definitely need better support for mental health in the LGBTQ+ community. can’t believe the rates are this high for bisexual women.
mental health matters!! lets hope this study brings about some real change. the numbers are really shocking…
This study is incredibly important. It’s time to step up and support our LGBTQ+ friends and family! We can do better, folks!
Didn’t realize the problem was this serious. We have to pay more attention to mental health issues. these statistics are just… startling.
thats so sad 🙁 We need to do more to help those struggling, especially within marginalized groups like the LGBTQ+ community. Lets work together people!