Originally posted in: http://www.prideinstituteflorida.com/our-weblog/suicide-and-glbt-teens.html
Coming out is never easy. Even more so for a teenager.
With puberty, peer pressures, religious values and familial expectations, it’s not easy to be a teen. Compile these issues with a questioning sexual identity and you’ve just thrown fuel on a fire.
Most teenagers want to fit in, to be with the “in” crowd, to not stand out. GLBT teens are often ostracized, taunted and bullied. To end their sufferings, some run away, some act out, while others choose more dire actions. Here are some national facts:
- Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning youth are up to four times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers, according to the Massachusetts 2006 Youth Risk Survey.
- A 2009 San Francisco State University study, “Family Rejection as a Predictor of Negative Health Outcomes,” shows that adolescence who were rejected by their families for being LGBT were 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide.
- The 2003 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey found that for every completed suicide by a young person, it is estimated that 100 to 200 attempts are made.
With these daunting figures, it’s a wonder GLBT teens who do come out, can do so successfully. But they do and grow up to be accomplished musicians, actors, teachers and even politicians. They are testament to the fact that in a nurturing and caring environment, GLBT teens can accept their sexualities and grow up to be productive members of society.
If you are a teenager and questioning your sexuality, you are not alone.
If you are being teased, bullied and even threatened, you have help.
You don’t have to suffer alone or in silence.
Being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered isn’t a curse or something to be ashamed of. More importantly, being gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered isn’t a death sentence. The Pride Institute would like you to know they are safe havens for you to deal with these issues. With positive role models, community support, peer counseling in a non-judgmental setting, we’ll show you that being different is a blessing and nothing to hide. After all, PRIDE is something everybody should experience.
Call us today if you have any questions, concerns or need help.