European Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Suicide Problems?

At the web page Child and adolescent suicide and parasuicide in Europe N/A, information is given on 1995 - 1997 major British project funded by the European Commission, the Department of Health, and several UK trusts and foundations. Homosexuality issues are not mentioned, and they may not have been addressed. It was nonetheless noted that, in Britain "in the decade to 1990, suicide among males between 14 and 24 years rose by almost 80 per cent."

A similar silence about homosexuality issues may also occur in the 1998 Child and Adolescent Self-Harm in Europe N/A initiative funded by The European Commission Daphne Initiative. By November 8, 1998, I completed the form at http://www.ncb.org.uk/shquest.htm N/A to advise them of the information available on these web pages. I have also requested all information collected or produced on The Homosexuality Factor in European Youth Suicide Problems. References noted below indicate that gay, lesbian, and bisexual issues are not being addressed by mainstream organizations nor mainstream researchers addressing self-harm and suicide issues in the child and youth population. NOTE: This was written in 2000 and, since then, a number of studies have indicated that GLBT people are at risk for suicideality and suicide. With respect to the latter, for example:

2007 Conference Presentations of Sexual Minority Suicidality Related Studies in Some European Countries (Word Download).

Social exclusion of young lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in Europe. (106 page 2006 report by Judit Takács: PDF Download).

A New Web Page For GLB Suicide Problems in England, Ireland, and Scotland.

Switzerland: A 1998 Study Indicates That Gay & Bisexual Males From the French speaking Part of Switzerland Have Elevated Suicidality Rates.

From the abstract: "A high rate of suicide attempts was found among homosexuals, both HIV- and HIV+." The lifetime suicide attempt rate for the sample of 144 gay and bisexual males is about 23%. Research Highlights. - Un jeune gay sur quatre a tenté de se suicider: "Selon une étude suisse, les garçons âgés entre 13 et 17 ans qui aiment les garçons traversent une crise profonde. Le psychiatre lausannois Pierre Cochand propose d'aborder le sujet dans les écoles. Il note que plus on parle des comportements homosexuels, plus leur fréquence diminue..." - Note: In 1998, an Australian study also reported elevated lifetime "suicide attempt" rates (21% - 29%) for a similar sample of gay and bisexual males. See "Australia" page.

Leu, Christian (2008). Orientation sexuelle et comportements suicidaires: Une enquête sur les résultats de la recherche internationale et nationale sur les facteurs de risque et de protection pour les adolescents homosexuels et bisexuels. Berne, La Suisse / Switzerland: Le collectif Formation de PINK CROSS, LOS et fels. Full Text. Download Page.

Leu, Christian (2008). Sexuelle Orientierung und Suizidalität: Eine Untersuchung der internationalen und nationalen Forschungs-ergebnisse der Risiko- und Schutzfaktoren für adoleszente Homo- und Bisexuelle. bern, Switzrland: PINK CROSS, LOS und fels. Full Text. Download Page.

Switzerland gays and lesbians are second-class citizens N/A. - En octobre 1998, le magazine 360° (New URL) publie une enquête sur l'homosexualité dans le milieu scolaire en Suisse Romande et aux Etats-Unis (Article Listing N/A).- La loi du silence N/A: Enquête dans les écoles de Suisse Romande. Témoignages de jeunes gays et lesbiennes, d'enseignants homos et de directeurs d'établissements secondaires. - "J'ai refusé de porter un masque N/A." Interview de Jean-Pierre Sigrist, premier enseignant ouvertement gay à Genève dans les années 1980, fondateur de l'OSEEH, co-fondateur du GLHOG et de Dialogai. - Education sexuelle N/A. Ce qu'on ose dire aux élèves. Un tour d'horizon auprès des animateurs en éducation sexuelle en Suisse Romande. NOTE: These article were at http://www.lambda-education.ch/ and then disappeared. They also are not present a the New URL.

Etude et statistiques sur les jeunes gays en Suisse Romande: - Le questionnaire ciblait explicitement des jeunes hommes de 16 à 25 ans... Durant ces 6 derniers mois, avez-vous eu des idées de suicide? non, jamais: 68.3%; oui, rarement: 16.3%; oui, parfois: 9.8%; oui, souvent: 5.7%... Avez-vous par le passé tenté de vous suicider? Oui: 24.4%; Non: 74.4%; ne répond pas: 1.6%. Echantillion: n = 102 jeune hommes homosexuels et bisexuels.

Perception du système de soins par les jeunes hommes homosexuels (Article de P. Cochand G. Dennler O. Weber): "Les difficultés des jeunes homosexuels à accepter leur orientation sexuelle, les problèmes psychologiques qu’ils présentent et l’absence fréquente de soutien du milieu familial dans le moment de crise que peut être la prise de conscience de sa différence identitaire conduisent un certain nombre d’entre eux à chercher dialogue et compréhension auprès du corps médical. L’attitude des soignants face au questionnement identitaire de ces adolescents et plus généralement face à l’homosexualité est dès lors décisive pour l’épanouissement de ces jeunes patients. Trois vignettes cliniques illustrent les difficultés tant des jeunes homosexuels que des soignants à aborder sereinement cette problématique..."

Wang J, Häusermann M, Ajdacic-Gross V, Aggleton P, Weiss MG (2007). High prevalence of mental disorders and comorbidity in the Geneva Gay Men's Health Study. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 42(5): 414-20. Abstract. Full Text.

The French Contribution to Tackling Possible Gay/Bisexual Male Suicide Problems in France.

Issue No. 65 (1996) contains "DOSSIER SUICIDE" (The Suicide File) announced on the Index Page with "Dossier: Le suicide du jeune gai ... dossier" (File: The suicide of young gay males... file). The "file" link leads to the file's index page containing four highlighted title links, each representing a section of the "dossier". The first line on the page is "Le suicide du jeune gai, réalité ou mythe?" (The suicide of young gay males, reality or myth?)

Generally, the concept presented is that there is really no validity to the idea - mostly stemming from North American studies - that gay males are more at risk for having suicide problems. Furthermore, as highlighted by Yves Roussel in the tile of his article, "Si fragile... si féminin, this "higher risk for suicide" makes gay males such as himself appear to be "so fragile... so feminine."

At least for some homosexual French males, the idea of belonging to a group at greater risk for suicide problems is odious apparently because it then makes them more feminine - as in therefore maybe not being real men - defined by being being anything "feminine." This concept, however, is rooted in extreme sexism also underlying homophobia according to Welzer-Lang [L'homophobie : La face cachée du masculin (Homophia: the hidden face of masculinity)], and Welzer-Land, Dutey, et Dorais (1994) [La peur de l'autre en soi, du sexisme à l'homophobie] who have studied and written on the subject from a "French" perspective. (Note: These items are available from "menprofeminist.org" site.)

The implications are that these masculine French homosexual males are homophobic - or self-hating - and one result of self-hatred may be to not only facilitate the deaths of individuals like oneself (the ones representing what exists within oneself but is denied), but to also deny the problem's existence. In the latter case, nothing will done to help the ones "at risk" and a maximum casualties will result for these males.

Finally, to make these [death facilitating] opinions look valid - and these same opinions have also been held by most mainstream suicidologists who have generally made it their life mission to ignore homosexuality-related issues in suicide prevention / intervention / and research work - the bibliography is deemed to be "recent." More important to establishing its reliability, however, is the fact that it was apparently compiled with the collaboration of the Department of Sociology at the University of Chicago! However, the bibliography is lacking in many ways if it is compared to the works (the studies done before 1996 in North America) cited in the "gbsuicide0.htm" file.

Homosexual males who are fearful of being perceived "feminine" may be using well known methods to counter such insecurities in their psyche. They may, in fact, have bought into the "prison" {"la maison des hommes"] ideology rendered by Jean Genet: Men who fuck males are double males. But what about the "penetrated" males - the ones essentially made into women? Maybe, it was not an accident that Remafedi et al. (1991) reported that it was the more "feminine" adolescent males who were at the greatest risk for having attempted suicide. Could a part of the problem be that these boys acquired the same ideology manifested by "masculine" homosexuals (producing self-hatred for them), and that they also may have been subjected to whatever feminine-hating (sexist) "masculine" homosexual (bisexual, or heterosexual) males have had to offer?

Note: Understanding the above is imperative to understanding the high suicidality rates for male prisoner in France, America, Australia, and in other countries - a subject not yet significantly tackled in these web pages. It is possible that the "masculine" homosexuality many males have manifested in prisons is implicated in suicides - not of themselves but of other males sexually used and abused (even raped) by these ultra-"masculine" homosexuals. Relevant information is available from (1) Donaldson (1993) - A Million Jockers, Punks, and Queens: Sex among American Male Prisoners and its Implications for Concepts of Sexual Orientation. (2) Donaldson (1990) N/A - Prisons, Jails, and Reformatories. (3) Welzer-Land, Mathieu, and Faure (1996) (See below). (4) One in 4 Prisoners Sexually Assaulted (Australian Prisons). - Sexual assault rife in NSW jails N/A.

Is there a suicide problem in French prisons for males? Yes, according to Welzer-Land, Mathieu, and Faure (1996) who note it to be "6 to 7 times" worse than for similar males in society. Is the problem even more serious for the youngest males in prison - the ones most often desired - and even raped - by "masculine" homosexuals? Is there a situation in France similar to the one proposed by Donaldson (1990) N/A with respect to the suicide-producing effect of "masculine" homosexuality on other less masculine males in American prisons? Why, however, has the phenomenon been generally ignored in studies by mainstream suicidologists in France or in America? Additional information is available in The Homosexuality Factor in Prison Violence.

For more information about prisons as a more pure form of "la maison des hommes" ["men's hut or lodge" - an important anthropology concept related to the making of men which generally means purging (repressing?) anything "feminine" in them] ideology rooted in extreme sexism, see Welzer-Land, Mathieu, and Faure (1996) "Sexualités et violences en prison (Extraits): Ces abus qu’on dit sexuels." (Also see other "homophobia references listed above.) This learned sexism (reflecting a hatred for women) also results in a hatred (gender-based homophobia) for males deemed to be "like women": the stereotypical "feminine" homosexual.

Colloque Jeunes & Homosexualité N/A: "Entre juin 1997 et juin 1998, la ligne a été sollicitée près de 25 000 fois. Un peu moins de 4 000 appels ont pu être traités aboutissant sur plus de 1 400 entretiens personnalisés (bien qu'anonymes) d'une durée moyenne de 20 minutes. Plus de 70 % des appelants expriment une difficulté à accepter leur différence sexuelle. Les problèmes de peur, de crainte, d'acceptation de soi, de solitude, d'isolement et de mal être reviennent le plus fréquemment durant les entretiens. Le mal être, lui, concerne 13 à 14 % des appelants dont certains n'hésitent pas à parler d'état dépressif, de pulsions suicidaires ou même de tentatives de suicide.

Suicide et dépression chez les adolescents homosexuels, l'urgence d'une action!!! (Alternate Link) - Le suicide qui n’ose pas dire son nom: "Le livre Homosexualité & suicide, au travers d’études et de 13 témoignages, propose une explication du taux de suicide apparemment plus élevé chez les gays et lesbiennes et particulièrement les jeunes... Je cite un paragraphe du livre qui résume les principaux facteurs à risque pour le jeune gay : « on s’aperçoit que les risques suicidaires les plus élevés sont, soit associés à un vécu persécutif de la part de membres de la famille, de pairs, ou de professionnels référents ; soit à une difficulté extrême à traverser la prise de conscience et / ou la révélation de l’homosexualité ; soit enfin à une incapacité à vivre l’un de ses premiers amours, à un rejet de sa part ou à une rupture amoureuse.." - Tentatives de suicide à l’adolescence: souffrance singulière et mal-être social: "Les jeunes face à l’homophobie" par Eric Verdier, Coauteur de Homosexualité et suicide (p. 14-16. PDF Download) - Suicide Mortelle homophobie: Entretien réalisé par Dany Stive: Éric Verdier et Jean-Marie Firdion, Homosexualités et Suicide. - Contribution d’Eric Verdier À L’amphi 2005. - Une recherche action d’Éric Verdier: Préférence sexuelle, niveau social, origine ethnique : la discrimination conduit à la prise de risque..

Le risque de suicide chez les jeunes a orientations sexuelles non conventionelles (lesbiennes, bisexuelles, gais) (PDF Download, Homosexualites et Socialism, Rapport). - Le rejet social comme origine du suicide N/A. (Locate Link on this page and download item) - Avoir 16 ans et être homo: "La vie est très difficile lorsqu'on se découvre gay au collège et au lycée. Un petit aperçu de mon histoire à moi et mes conseils... C'était également un moyen d'annoncer mon homosexualité aux gens qui m'entourent. Grave erreur. Dans le cercle de mes amis, je me suis découvert des ennemis suite à cette annonce. ça a été un calvaire cette dernière année. Insultes, sous-entendus mal placés, et même des crachas..." - Suicide et dépression: "Suicide et sexualité sont encore aujourd'hui en France des sujets relativement tabous. De nombreux experts estiment que les statistiques sur le suicide sont sous-évaluées. De plus, à la différence des États-Unis, du Canada et de l'Italie, aucune étude n'a été menée à ce jour sur les risques suicidaires dans la population des jeunes gais et lesbiennes et celles réalisées sur le suicide chez les jeunes n'interrogent, ni ne prennent en compte les difficultés liées à l'acceptation de l'homosexualité ou de pratiques homosexuelles...

Modes de consommation d’alcool et tentatives de suicide chez l’homme jeune N/A: "Population et méthodes: Il s’agit d’une population exclusivement masculine, représentative des 400 000 sujets sélectionnés tous les ans dans l’ensemble des 10 centres de sélection de métropole [Paris]. 9 758 sujets ont été tirés au sort. 9 270 réponses furent exploitables (taux de participation : 95 %). L’âge moyen est de 20 ans, les extrêmes se situant de 17 à 29 ans. Le taux de réponse aux 119 items de l’autoquestionnaire varie entre 88 % et 99 % selon les questions. L’enquête s’est déroulée entre novembre 1992 et février 1993... Conclusions: ...D’autres facteurs du risque suicidaire, non étudiés en détail, ont été relevés, tels l’usage de drogues illicites, de tabac et l’homosexualité. Parmi les sujets ayant fait un geste suicidaire, un sur deux présente deux facteurs de risque ou plus."

État de la question et pistes de prévention: Synthèse de la journée d’étude organisée le 17 juillet 2001 (PDF Download): "Depression, tentatives de suicide et trise de risque parmis les lecteurs de la presse gay francaise" (Philippe ADAM, Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint-Maurice, France): "4753 questionnaires remplis par des hommes... Pour ce qui est des répondants masculins, l ’échantillon se caractérise par une forte représentation des personnes qui vivent en région parisienne (42%) et qui sont allés à l ’université (62%). L ’âge moyen est de 35 ans. La plupart (91%) des répondants se définissent comme gays. La moitié ont un partenaire stable. 12% des répondants sont séropositifs pour le VIH... Nous commencerons par dresser un état des lieux à partir des autodéclarations des répondants. Parmi eux, 17% déclarent avoir déjà fait une tentative de suicide au cours de leur vie... Le graphique précédent montre que le taux de déclaration de tentatives de suicide est déjà à son maximum (27%) parmi les moins de 20 ans puis il décroît régulièrement avec l’âge pour se stabiliser autour de 15% après 35 ans."

Evaluation de l’effet éventuel de la sursuicidalité sur les comportements sexuels à risque chez les jeunes hommes ayant des relations entre eux. Conséquences sur la pratique du dépistage du VIH (PDF Download): "La sursuicidalité des jeunes hommes ayant des relations entre eux (HSH)... Cette étude exploratoire a été réalisée en 2001 en milieu ouvert (à l’occasion d’une manifestation festive) sur un échantillon (n=368; F=55%; âge médian: F=19 ans; [ET=6,7]; H=21 ans; [ET=8]), vivant principalement en région parisienne –sur-représenté en HSH (17%) – rapportant pour environ 12% au moins une tentative de suicide (TS) durant la vie. Les résultats obtenus confirment la sursuicidalité des HSH (30%; p<0.05 ; 6 fois supérieure à celle des hommes hétérosexuels) strictement comparable aux données épidémiologiques disponibles..."

Suicide et tentative de suicide parmi les personnes à orientation homo-/bisexuel: - Prévalence des tentatives de suicide (France) selon le sexe et l’orientation sexuelle... Hommes: 17%. 17%; Femmes: 25%. - Vos avis au sujet de l'homosexualité: "Bonjour à tous.... je m'appelle Vanessa, je vais avoir 20 ans au mois de juin 2003. Je suis homosexuelle (lesbienne, gwenn, comme vous le désirez...). Je n'ai pas choisi d'être comme celà! Je me suis rendue compte malgré moi que j'aimais une femme! Autre chose, c'est grâce à des homophobes comme ceux-ci qu'à mes 17 ans, j'ai fait une tentative de suicide! ...Un jour il a tenté de se suicider mais sa mère est arrivé avant pour éviter la catastrophe. Ensuite il a dit à toutes les personnes qu'il connaissait qu'il était homo. Tout le monde l'a plus où moins accepté mais il est quand même retourné avec un fille à cause de la pression et des regards. Maintenant il vit avec une fille, mais il fait dépression sur dépression, tentative de suicide sur tentative de suicide, il est terriblement malheureux, il ne sort plus beaucoup à cause du regards des gens. En gros, il est en train de se détruire et de mourir tout ça à cause de ces crét... d'homophobes!"

En prison, être homosexuel, c’est la pire des choses: "Mais le pire s’est produit récemment et au moment où vous lisez ce témoignage, mon ami est dans un service psychiatrique, suite à une tentative de suicide. J’ai effectivement appris récemment qu’il a été violé par trois détenus sous les douches quelques jours avant son transfert. Comme d’habitude en prison, ses cris n’ont pas été entendus. Les trois détenus et les surveillants ont probablement tous supposé qu’un homosexuel apprécierait de se faire enculer violemment par des inconnus. En 11 ans, mon ami aura donc subi deux viols en milieu carcéral. Première incarcération : premier viol : transmission du VIH. Deuxième incarcération : second viol : tentative de suicide..."

Les chiffres noirs du suicide N/A: "Selon les nouvelles données de l’Enquête presse gay 2000, que «Têtu» présente en exclusivité, un gay sur six a déjà fait une tentative de suicide. Et les liens entre dépression et prise de risques sexuels font froid dans le dos... Le premier mérite de cette enquête est qu’elle nous donne, enfin, des chiffres précis sur la dépression et les tentatives de suicide chez les gays. Malgré les informations alarmantes en provenance d’autres pays depuis quelques années, ces problématiques, bien documentées chez les hétérosexuels, étaient jusqu’à présent complètement ignorées en ce qui concerne les gays. Parmi les hommes ayant répondu à l’Enquête presse gay, 17 % déclarent avoir déjà fait une tentative de suicide au cours de leur vie, soit environ un homo sur six. Ces données sont similaires à celles de plusieurs enquêtes menées à l’étranger, notamment aux États-Unis..."

Le suicide révèle la souffrance singulière des jeunes homosexuels: "Les résultats préliminaires du travail de Marc Shelly, médecin de santé publique et responsable du centre de dépistage anonyme et gratuit de l’hôpital parisien Fernand-Widal, font apparaître que, "toutes choses égales par ailleurs" âge, lieu de résidence, niveau d’études, catégorie socioprofessionnelle, structure familiale parentale, modes de vie (couple ou célibat) , les jeunes homosexuels ont treize fois plus de risque de faire une tentative de suicide que les jeunes hétérosexuels. Ces résultats confirment les chiffres issus des études américaines, canadiennes et australiennes : elles aboutissent, chez les homosexuels, à des chiffres de "sursuicidalité" variant de six à treize." - Prévention du suicide et pratiques de réseaux-congrès international-Liège du 18 au22/11/2002: " Les résultats obtenus : • confirment la sursuicidalité des HSH (30% ; p<0.05 ; 6 fois supérieure à celle des hommes hétérosexuels..." - Suicide des jeunes : premiers chiffres français. - Péril suicidaire chez les jeunes homos: Une enquête indépendante révèle qu’un homo ou bisexuel homme a treize fois plus de risques de faire une tentative de suicide qu’un hétérosexuel. Extrait de l’article paru dans liberation.fr.

A French politicians outs himself and states the following (N/A): "Je suis et resterai persuadé que plus de visibilité (de tous en général, mais des hommes et femmes publics en particulier) éviterait sans doute un certain nombre de suicides de jeunes (ou moins jeunes homosexuels)." - Les suicides: " En réfléchissant à cette première tentative des années plus tard, il est possible que cela soit le refoulement de mon homosexualité qui était encore endormie, je me souviens étant à l'internat à cette époque dans une école d'horticulture, dans le dortoir le thème homo avait été employé et d'ailleurs certains mecs étaient passé à la pratique pendant la nuit et que moi je ne savais pas ou j'en étais, le sexe, la masturbation était inconnue jusqu'à 20ans environ... Pourtant de nouveau quelques années plus tard je fais ma deuxième tentative de suicide, juste environ 1an avant mon coming out, pourquoi cette nouvelle tentative de me supprimer, je ne le sais toujours pas, je sais que je suis quelqu'un de très différent des autres, plutôt fragile, c'est comme ça surtout que je suis en pleine période d'anorexie physique et mentale, je veux un suicide rapide et aussi un suicide morbide, j'ai décidé de ne plus manger et de me laisser mourir à petit feu..."

Pas de mission sur le suicide pour Christine Boutin (communiqué Inter-LGBT - 26 mai 2003): "A l'unanimité, le Conseil de l'Interassociative lesbienne, gaie bi et trans, réuni ce samedi 24 mai, a voté une décision demandant à Jean-Pierre Raffarin de retirer la mission qu'il a confiée à Christine Boutin sur les taux de suicide en France (cf. décision ci-dessous). Constatant que "Christine Boutin s'est faite le relais d'une homophobie des plus violentes, et sans doute des plus destructrices auprès des jeunes en construction de leur identité", le Conseil de l'Inter-LGBT estime que "la mission confiée par le Premier Ministre à Christine Boutin est une provocation à l'égard des associations LGBT". Les associations font remarquer que la députée " a offert une tribune inédite à une haine homophobe qu'elle n'inscrira probablement pas dans son rapport comme une cause de suicide"." - Ex Aequo écrit à Christine Boutin sur le suicide des jeunes gays. - Suicide, prévention : deviner le risque chez l'adolescent. - Le suicide à l'adolescence. - Communiqué de Presse - Suicide des Jeunes: "Suite à la publication du rapport 2001 de l'INSERM sur le suicide des jeunes, l'association DEGEL constate qu'une fois de plus le problème du suicide chez les jeunes gais et lesbiennes est totalement occulté. Or, des études Nord-Américaines réalisées au cours des dix dernières années révèlent que le risque d'attenter à sa vie pour un-e jeune homo est sept fois plus important que pour un jeune hétéro. En France aucune étude prise en charge par l’Etat n’a été faite à ce jour."

Belgium: 1998 Study Indicates That Belgium's Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Youth Have Elevated Suicidality Rates.

Lesbian Bisexual Females vs Heterosexual Females: 25% (approx.) vs 5.4% attempted suicide at least once, and 45% vs 24.3% reported having contemplated suicide.

Gay Bisexual Males vs Heterosexual Males: 12.5% (approx) vs 5.9% attempted suicide at least once, and 24.3% vs 16.0% reported having contemplated suicide.

Note: This study is the one referenced on the Unit for Suicide Research's Current Research Page N/A. Study Title: Controlled cross-sectional study of suicidal thoughts, impulses, and behaviour among homosexual adolescents.

Relevant Information: "Controlled cross-sectional study of suicidal thoughts, impulses, and behaviour among homosexual adolescents. Anecdotal reports indicate a substantially increased risk of suicidal behaviour among homosexual adolescents. This study aims at the assessment of suicidal thoughts, impulses, and behaviour among homosexual adolescents by comparing them with heterosexual adolescents. This study is conducted in cooperation with the Dept of Sociology, University Gent (Prof. Dr. J. Vincke)."

The paper was presented at the 7th European Symposium on Suicide and Suicidal Behaviour held from September 9-12 in Gent, Belgium. The symposium's program and abstracts may be downloaded from a Symposium web page N/A.

Published as: van Heeringen C, Vincke J (2000). Suicidal acts and ideation in homosexual and bisexual young people: a study of prevalence and risk factors. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 35: 494-99. (A PubMed "abstract") Full text N/A available online.

Le taux des tentatives de suicide est plus élevé chez les jeunes homosexuels (6 octobre 1998, Must Scroll): "Une étude menée en Flandres par l'université de Gand montre que les jeunes homosexuels de 15 à 25 ans ont 2 à 5 fois plus de risque de tenter un suicide que les jeunes hétérosexuels. 25% des femmes bisexuelles ou lesbiennes et 13% des hommes homosexuels avaient tenté un suicide, contre 5.4% des femmes et 5.9% des hommes hétérosexuel-le-s. 45% des femmes bisexuelles ou lesbiennes et 33% des hommes homosexuels avaient envisagé un suicide, contre 24% des femmes et 16% des hommes hétérosexuel-le-s. L'étude a été conduite par le sociologue John Vincke et le psychologue Kees van Heeringen auprès de 404 jeunes, homosexuels pour la moitié et présentée au 7ème Symposium Européen « The Suicidal Process: Challenges for Treatment and Prevention » du 9 au 12 septembre.

État de la question et pistes de prévention: Synthèse de la journée d’étude organisée le 17 juillet 2001 (PDF Download).

NOTE: A search of the "Suicide Symposium" document revealed an absence of information related to Professor Vincke's research. A search of European gay/lesbian web sites also produced no relevant information, including the general absence of information indicating a possible elevated risk for suicide problems in the European GLB youth population. Are Europe's GLB children and youth being ignored to death, like the situation has existed in mainstream suicidology in the United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries?

A communication with the study researchers, Dr. Vincke and Dr. van Heeringen, revealed that the presentation of the very important study results at the Suicide Symposium was a "last minute" decision based on the unexpected early tabulation of the study data. It is therefore possible that this study will mark the beginning of the end to the neglect of "homosexuality" issues by Europe's mainstream suicidologists.

Romania

"In the course of his inquest, numerous people have been threatened and terrorized; one claims to have been beaten; another was driven to two successive suicide attempts... Kalman K., Gheorghe's closest friends, was taken in by the police in April. Around 10:00 PM that night, after he was released from his interrogation, Kalman came to Gheorghe - who was still recovering from his suicide attempts - saying that the next morning Ivan would come to pick up Gheorghe, and to put the two face-to-face to
recognise that they were a homosexual couple. .. Gabi tried to commit suicide by jumping from a fourth-floor window after this event, because Serban asked him for a 100,000 lei (25$) fine, far more than his pathetically limited resources. This was his second suicide attempt: the other, a year before, was due to unrelated problems.

Looking For Acceptance N/A: "The conference heard testimonies from older participants who had attempted suicide or been subjected to blackmail; almost without exception, most had chosen to live a clandestine life, either with a partner or more likely alone, to escape the attention of a state which in the Ceausescu era, gaoled homosexuals and subjected them to electric shock treatment."

Provocative findings from the LGBT Health Study (Budapest, July 19-20, 2006: Powerpoint Download) by Brian Griffin: “Over 56% of those surveyed in Macedonia [Hungary] report having suicidal thoughts. In the other countries the proportion ranges on the lower end from 18% in Macedonia and 24% in BiH to just over 42% and 43% in Moldova and Romania respectively. In terms of those with suicide thoughts going on to attempt suicide, we see that this happens in 50% of the cases in Moldvoa, in almost 45% of the cases in Romania. The percentages drop considerably in the remaining countries and range from 0% in Macedonia to 18.3% in Hungary. In Moldova it was noted that of those who reported having suicidal thought, women had a slight majority at 55.6%. When it comes to a gender breakdown of those reported having attempted suicide, that majority goes up to 60%. “It is significant to note that in three of the countries surveyed, in the region of 60% of respondents felt that these experiences related to their sexual orientation and/or gender identity.” (22-23) Report asks why these numbers are lower than those in international studies. Instead it should ask if they are higher than suicide rates among non-LGBT youth in country.

Slovenia

Yugoslavia

Gay Serbians find acceptance is a casualty of war: "Maljkovic felt the crackdown even harder than his colleagues, for he was weeks away from cohosting the first gay radio show, GAYTO! In a culture where doctors still urge electroshock therapy to "cure" homosexuality and where celebrities and intellectuals alike openly disdain gays and lesbians, Maljkovic hoped GAYTO! would change some minds." "'All our efforts to change the opinion of the Serbian population toward accepting homosexuality as a normal aspect of sexuality are now destroyed. I want to go,' he said."

People who don't fight back: "This is one of the numerous situations in which our state has expressed its homophobic attitude. Police raids and gay bashing by the state employees is not an unusual occurrence. In July, 1994, Serbia withdrew its law
prohibiting male homosexuality. Still, police violence against gay men continues unabated, and young men feel free to bash gay people at random, knowing well that gay men cannot turn to the police for help."

From the - At-Home with Joan - site: At-Home with Lepa Mladjenovic - looks at male aggression, violence and war as well as the situations of women and queers in FR Yugoslavia and the Balkans, and discusses the current struggle for democracy in FR Yugoslavia.

Information Request

Norway

The possible GLB suicide problem in Norway was addressed (possibly for the first time in 1997) via the paper The need for developing strategies for suicide prevention among young lesbian women and gay men: empirical and theoretical rationales written on the subject. The paper's abstract is available online N/A - via the Internet Journal of Health Promotion.
Authors: Asle Offerdal (Studenenes psykiske helsetjeneste, Universitetet i..Bergen, Ha-ns Tanksgate 11 N-5028 BERGEN, and Norman Anderssen (Research Center for Health Promotion, University of ' Bergen, Oisteinsgt.3, N-5007 BERGEN.
The Paper was presented at the Conference on the Status of Nordic Health Promotion Research: Progress during the Decade after the Ottawa Charter.

Homosexuality by Marte Nathalie: "A statistic bureau in Norway recently released a study on the life-quality amongst young people that love someone from the same sex. The results are shocking. One out of four had tried to commit suicide! Half of the people asked didn't dare to tell even their closest friends that they were gay. Many had gone through tough times with their families, some had even been thrown out on the streets when they told they were gay."

Information related to GLB suicide problems in university-based studies would be of great value. A translation of the basic information will be greatly appreciated if the study is not in English or French.

Sweden

Although information related to a potential suicide problem for GLB youth seems to be non-existent, the reasons for predicting such a problem - as done for Norway - would be the same. In fact the socio-psychological situation described for GLB youth in Sweden is remarkable the same as the North American situation where GLB youth are reported to be at greater risk for suicidality. A summary is given in Lesbian and Gay the Swedish Way (A RSFL Pamphlet) in the subsection Young Lesbians and Gays:

Germany

Italy

Translation: 800 Italian gay and lesbian individuals surveyed. 65% of gay males and 61% of lesbians report having thought about suicide. Suicide attempt(s) reported by 22% and 21%, respectively. 28% report having received psychiatric treatment, 11% against their will.

Situation of lesbians and gays in Council of Europe member states N/A (Doc. 8755, 6 June 2000, Report by Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights) - Rapporteur: Mr Csaba Tabajdi, Hungary, Socialist Group: "In Italy, for example, in a study within the framework of the EU funded Daphne programme 40 % of respondents had contemplated suicide and 13% had attempted suicide. The age in which thoughts about suicide were most prevalent was between 14 and 16, whereas the suicide attempts tended to take place in the following two years." Cited Reference: "UK:Mason, A. and Palmer, A. (1996) - "Queer Bashing -- a national survey of hate crimes against lesbians and gay men". London: Stonewall.Bertozzo, G. (1998): "From Internet: The Voices of 'Quella Ragazza, Quel Ragazzo' (That Girl, That Boy). Finisterrae, nº 1, October, Firenze (Italy)." - Situation des lesbiennes et des gays dans les États membres du Conseil de l'Europe: "En Italie, par exemple, selon une enquête réalisée dans le cadre du programme Daphné financé par l'Union européenne, 40 % des personnes interrogées avaient envisagé le suicide, et 13 % avaient tenté de se suicider. C'est dans la tranche d'âge des 14-16 ans que prévalaient les idées de suicide, tandis que les tentatives de suicide avaient généralement lieu entre 16 et 18 ans."

Le suicide de jeunes homosexuel/le/s: "En Italie, par exemple, selon une enquête réalisée dans le cadre du programme Daphné financé par l'Union européenne, 40 % des personnes interrogées avaient envisagé le suicide, et 13 % avaient tenté de se suicider. C'est dans la tranche d'âge des 14-16 ans que prévalaient les idées de suicide, tandis que les tentatives de suicide avaient généralement lieu entre 16 et 18 ans."

Italy has been rocked by the suicide of a teenager who was subjected to anti-gay taunts at school: According to Italy's Gay Help Line, more than one third of the calls it gets are from students distressed by taunting and bullying at school. On Friday homophobic graffiti was sprayed across the front of a well-known gay and lesbian bookshop in Milan. Also on Friday, the Rome chapter of Arcigay claimed that local priests were pressuring mothers to have their gay children exorcised. Arcigay also complained about RAI state TV broadcaster news reports implying that the dead boy was picked on not because he was gay but because he was seen as a 'swot'..."

Turin: Suicide d'un «étudiant modèle»: "L'Italie est sous le choc après le suicide de Matteo, un adolescent de 16 ans. Dans une lettre qu'il a laissé à ses proches, il disait être la victime d'humiliations constantes de la part de ses camarades, qui le traitaient de «pédé».

Hungary

Denmark

European Sexual Minority Suicidality Studies

"Attempted Suicide" Incidences/Risks: Europe (Not Including United Kingdom, Ireland & France) Homosexually Oriented Youth or Adults
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Hegna et al. (1999)	2,988 (MF*)	None (M)	16% (M)	Age Range: 16 to 60+ Years, Norway Additional Results: By Age Groupings
Hegna et al. (1999)	2,988 (MF*)	None (F)	20% (F)
Hanner (2002)	419 (M)	None	23.5%	Volunteer Sample, Sweden Pencil & Paper Questionnaire Age: 16 to 24 years Homosexual / Bisexual: 84.2% of Females, 90.0% of Males Additional Results
Hanner (2002)	838 (M)	None	36.8%
Cochand & Bovet (1998)	164 (M) Homosexual or Bisexual Identified	None	22.7% HIV+: 18% HIV -: 26% Lifetime	French Part of Switzerland Snowball Sampling: Volunteers Mean Age: 36.4 Years, Age Range: 22 to 66 Years Attempted Suicide: Lifetime
Cochand et al. (2000)	103 (M) Mostly Gay Identified	None	24.4% (25 / 103)	Volunteers: Switzerland French Speaking Age Range: 16 to 25 Years
Häusermann & Wang (2003)	561 (M) Mostly Gay Identified?	None	19%	Swiss Volunteers: Gay Venues Age Range: 15 to 84+ Years 67%: 25 to 44 Years For Mental Disorder Results, see: Wang et al. (2007)
Senate Administration (1999)	227 (MF) Homosexual Bisexual? Identified	None	18%	Likely Volunteers: Berlin, Germany Age Range: 15 to 27 Years Study Results Given by Cochand et al. (2000)
Pietrantoni (1999)	64 (M) Homosexual Identified	None	26%	Italy: Volunteer Sample Age Range: 14 to 22 Years
Buffoli & Colucci (2007).	720 (MF) 605 (M) 115 (f)	None	20% (MF) 17.7% (M) 32.2% (F)	Italy: Internet Sample Age Range: 18 to 24 years More than 80% - 82.5% (M), 84.3% (F) - had thought about suicide. Participants in southern Italy's rural areas are most at risk for attempting suicide.
van Heeringen &Vincke (2000)	137 (M) Homosexual / Bisexual	71 (M) Heterosexual	11.5% ? (16 / 139 ?) vs. 6.0% (4 / 67)	Belgium: Homo/Bi Participants: Attending a Homo/Bi Youth Camp Heterosexual Participants: Schools Males: OR = 2.5 (0.8, 7.8) ns Females: OR = 6.2 (2.3, 16.6) Mean Age: 20.4 (SD: 2.3) Years Age Range: 15 to 27 Years
van Heeringen &Vincke (2000)	82 (F) Homosexual / Bisexual	114 (F) Heterosexual	25% (20 / 80) vs. 5.4% (6 / 110)
Quinn (2006)	100 to 392 per Sample	None	0.0% to 21% Average = 10.7%	GLBT Volunteer Samples from: Bosnia & Herzegovina, Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova. 62.5% to 86% in the samples are 30 Years-Old or Younger. See Table Below For Sample Results.
* M = Males - F = Females

GLBT Suicidality: Central & Eastern Europe
Category / Country	N	% Males	% GLB	Suicidal Thoughts, Ever	Attempted Suicide, Ever
Bosnia & Herzegovina	182	61.7%	69.4%	24%	3.8%
Macedonia*	100	65.0%	90.0%	18%	0.0%
Hungary	146	62.5%	96.5%	56.2%	10.2%
Romania	392	81.4%	93.6%	43.4%	19.3%
Moldova	147	69.5%	95.2%	42.2%	21.0%
Data Source: Quinn (2006) * Macedonia has anomalous "Attempted Suicide" results. Homosexual males there have also been reported to have an anomalous homo-sexuality generally different than that in the western "gay" communities. See Lambevski (1999): "This article pays special attention to the nationalist imperatives that order Macedonian and Albanian ‘gay’ men to use each other’s penises and orifices as weapons and targets of torture."

The Norway Study of 2,988 Gays & Lesbians Attempted Suicide Incidences
Categories	15-25* Years	16-24 ** Years	25-34 Years	35-49 Years	+ 50 Years	All
One Suicide Attempt (Males)		20%	12%	9%	11%	11%
Two or More Suicide Attempts (Males)		7%	5%	5%	2%	5%
Totals	25.8%	27%	17%	14%	13%	16%
One Suicide Attempt (Females)		14%	13%	14%	15%	13%
Two of More Suicide Attempts (Females)		11%	6%	7%	3%	7%
Totals	26.3%	25%	19%	21%	18%	20%
Data Source: Hegna et al. (1999) * Data Source: Hegna and Wichstrom (2007a), full suicality analysis, n = 407 youth. ** 72 males and 149 females: Information given by Hanner (2002)

Attempting Suicide by Same-Sex Attracted Youth in Sweden*
Categories	Males, n = 417 %	Females, n = 828 %
Never attempted Suicide	76.5%	63.2%
One Suicide Attempt	16.5%	20.3%
More Than One Suicide Attempt	7.0%	16.5%
Attempted Suicide	23.5%	36.8%
Thought about Attempting Suicide, Past Year	46.7%	55.1%
Data Source: Hanner (2002) * Same Sex Attracted Youth: 38.8 percent of girls (n = 846) and 71.9 percent of boys (n = 437) described themselves as "homosexual" or "gay with some heterosexual element"; 45.4 percent of girls and 18.1 percent estimates of the boys as "bisexual"; 8.3 percent of girls and 4.6 percent of the boys as "heterosexual with some homosexual elements"; with 7.6 percent of girls and 5.5 percent of the boys being unsure of their orientation.

"Attempted Suicide" Incidences/Risks: France Homosexually Oriented Youth or Adults
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Shelly (2002)	17% MSM of ???? (M)	Heterosexual (M)	30% VS. 5%??? Lifetime	Risk of MSM males for having attempted suicide said to be 6-times greater than for heterosexual males in the sample.
Shelly et al. (2005)	11.7% MSM of 933 (M) [n = 109]*	88.3% of 933 (M) [n = 824]** Heterosexual	"1 in 3" % 33% ?? vs. 3.2 %?? Lifetime	France, Sample = 993 males, age = 16 to 39 Years - Note 1. Attempted Suicide: Homosexual vs Heterosexual Males: OR = 4.0<13.1<42.2 With Control Variables Used
Adam (2001)	4,753 (M)	None	21% to 16% Lifetime	L’Enquête presse gay: 2000, France: % Lifetime Attempters, by Age Category: < 25 Years-Old: 21% 25+ Years-Old: 16% Mean Age = 35, Range = 14 to 60+ Years
Velter (2007a) Velter & Bouyssou-Michel (2007b)	6,048 (M) 89.5% Homosexual Identified	None	18.9% 1,140 / 6,048 Lifetime	L’Enquête presse gay (Internet & Gay Press): 2004, France: % Lifetime Attempters by Age Category <20 (32.0%), 20-24 (22.6%), 25-29 (17.5%), 30-34 (20.3%). 35-44 (18.3%), >44 (14.3%) Mean Age = 36.6 Years For Highest Risk Factors, See Below.
* M = Males - F = Females, **

L’Enquête presse gay (2004) Velter (2007a) Velter & Bouyssou-Michel (2007b) Variables Related to Highest Attempted Suicide Incidences
Variable	Yes Attempters (n)	No Attempters (n)	Attempted Suicide %: Yes vs. No for Given Variable
University Degree	525	599	13.9% vs. 27.3%
Unemployed	150	963	30.4% vs. 17.7%
Year Earnings: < 1,000 Euros	316	782	30.5% vs. 16.4%
Anti-Homosexuality Parents	233	678	38.0% vs. 15.9%
Verbally Abused: Gay Related	511	607	30.5% vs. 14.1%
Physically Assaulted: Gay Related	167	938	44.7% vs. 17.0%
Abuses at Work: Gay Related	175	923	38.0% vs. 17.0%
No Friends	58	1,063	38.4% vs. 18.2%
Sexually Assaulted	327	797	35.5% vs. 15.7%
N = 6,048 Males - Mean Age = 35, Range = 14 to 60+ Years

"Attempted Suicide" Incidences/Risks: Austria Homosexually Oriented Youth or Adults
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Plöderl & Fartacek (2005) Additional Results	358 (MF*)	267 (MF) Matched on basis of sex, age, and education.	34 Attempters (10%) vs. 4 Attempters (2%)	Austrian Volunteers from GLB Organizations & General Population Groups. Mean Age = 36.2 Years OR = 6.9 (2.4, 19.6) Criterion 2: True Attempts, Aborted Suicide Attempts Removed
Plöderl & Fartacek (2009)	142 (MF)	148 (MF)	[Coming Soon], Lifetime	Volunteers: 142 LGB and 148 heterosexual participants, 51% women in LGB group and 49% in heterosexual group. Mean age: 35.87 years, men = 39.67 years, women = 32.06 years.Results are reported for current (in the past year) and past suicidality. Lead author supplied "Lifetime" results.
Plöderl et al. (2008)	468 (M) Gay / Bisexual	None	18% Lifetime	Austrian Volunteer Internet Sample Age Range: 18 to 46 years.

* M = Males - F = Females, **

"Attempted Suicide" Risks: Austria Homosexually vs. Heterosexually Oriented Adults
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide n (%)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Ploderl & Fartacek (2005)	358 (MF*)	267 (MF) Matched on basis of Sex, Age, and Education	51 (14%) vs. 3 (1%)	Austrian Volunteers from GLB Organizations & General Population Groups. Mean Age = 36.2 Years OR = 14.6 (4.5, 47.4) All Reporting: Attempted Suicide
			47 (13%) vs. 4 (2%)	OR = 9.9 (3.5, 27.9) Criterion 1: Attempt Confirmed With Follow-Up Questions. Includes Aborted Suicide Attempts
			34 (10%) vs. 4 (2%)	OR = 6.9 (2.4, 19.6) Criterion 2: True Attempts, Aborted Suicide Attempts Removed
			11 (3%) vs. 1 (0.4%)	OR = 8.4 (1.1, 65.7) Suicide Attempts Requiring Medical Attention
* M = Males - F = Females

Lifetime "Self Harm / Attempted Suicide" Incidences Non-Random GLB Study Populations: United Kingdom
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Self Harm / Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Comments
Rivers (2000)	116 (MF*) 92 (M)	None	37.1% (43 / 116) Self Harm / Suicide Attempt(s) Lifetime	Volunteers: Advertising in GLB Community Venues. Follow-up Questionnaire to 190 United Kingdom Participants in a Previous Study. Mean Age = 28 Years, 16 to 54 Years Men: 16 to 54 years, Women: 16 to 44 Years Age Range Information: Rivers (2004)
Cant (2002)	85 (MF)	None	32% Attempted Suicide 35% Self-Harm	The Metro Centre in Greenwich that is accessed by some young lesbian, gay and bisexual people from Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham. Data collected on 85 youth registered there from October 2001 to April 2002: 85 young people.
Carragher & Rivers (2002)	93 (M)	None	33.7% (29 / 86) Self Harm / Suicide Attempt(s) Lifetime	Male Part of Rivers (2000) UK Sample. Mean Age = 28 Years, SD: 9.0 Years Age Range: 16 to 54 Years
Webb & Wright (2001)	1145 (MF)	None	Attempted S. 18.3% (210 / 1145) Lifetime	90% Living in Brighton & Hove. Women: significantly more likely than men to have self-harmed. No significant differences for attempting suicide. Serious thoughts of suicide, ever: declines from 53.1% to 21.6%, from age group 16-25, to age group 65+ Age = 16 - 65+
Webb & Wright (2001)	1145 (MF)	None	Self Harm: 10.6% (121 / 1145) Lifetime
Hutchison et al. (2003)	95 (M)	None	Self Harm: 28.4% (27 / 95) Lifetime	Volunteers: Gay Venues (Edinburgh, Scotland) Age = 15 - 26 Years Self Harm = No Intent To Die 42% of Suicide Attempters: Repeat Attempters Compared to National Male Statistics: Self Harm: 5.6 Times More likely Attempted Suicide: 6.7 Times More Likely
Hutchison et al. (2003)	95 (M)	None	Attempted S. 27.4% (26 / 95) Lifetime
King et al. (2003)* & Warner et al. (2004)*	656 (M) Gay	505 (M) Hetero- sexual	Self Harm** 25% vs. 13.5%	Snowball Sampling (England, Wales): Gay / Lesbian Venues, Publications, Advertisements, Followed by Recruitment: Friends, etc. Mean Age = 36.4 Years Self-Harm: Lifetime
	84 (M) Bisexual	505 (M) Hetero- sexual	Self Harm** 27% vs. 13.5%	Snowball Sampling (As Above) Mean Age = 35.5 Years
	430 (F) Lesbian	588 (F) Hetero- sexual	Self Harm** 31% vs. 16.5%	Snowball Sampling (As Above) Mean Age = 34.2 Years
	111 (F) Bisexual	588 (F) Hetero- sexual	Self Harm** 33% vs. 16.5%	Snowball Sampling (As Above) Mean Age = 29.8 Years
Cull et al. (2006)	44 GLBT Homeless Youth	None	Attempted Suicide: > 66.7% Lifetime	Volunteer: GLBT Presently/Past Homeless in Brighton and Hove, England - Age = 16 - 25 Years. 'Nearly all reported a history of mental health problems or substance misuse. Half reported alcohol or substance misuse. Over two thirds had a history of attempting suicide.'
Meads et al. (2007)	449 (F) 93.5% LGB Identified	None	31.3% Attempted Suicide, Lifetime	Volunteer: Measure for Measure 1 Study (2002) Commissioned by the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority
Meads et al. (2007)	166 (F) 77% LGB Identified	None	20.0% Attempted Suicide, Lifetime	Volunteer: Measure for Measure 2 Study (2005) Commissioned by the West Midlands South Strategic Health Authority
Hunt & Fish (2008)	5,053 (F) 81% Lesbian Identified	None	5.0% Attempted Suicide, Past Year	England: Volunteer Sample: Online & Pencil/Paper 82% White British. Age Range: 14 to 84 Years. Attempted Suicide Incidence Range, in the Past Year, in 10 Regions: 3.5% to 7.4%. See Table Below. Self-Harm, With No Intention of Killing Self, in the Past Year: Incidence Range: 15.9% to 22.9%, in 10 Regions. See Table Below. Results Similar for Wales: See Table Below.
Hunt & Fish (2008)	5,053 (F) 81% Lesbian Identified	None	20.0% Self-Harm, Past Year
Hunt & Fish (2008a)	510 (F) 77.8% Lesbian Identified	None	4.8% Attempted Suicide, Past Year	Scotland: Volunteer Sample: Online & Pencil/Paper Age Range: 15 to 72 years. Attempted Suicide Incidence Range, in the Past Year, in 10 Regions: 1.1% to 10.2%. See Table Below. Self-Harm, With No Intention of Killing Self, in the Past Year: Incidence Range: 14.6% to 39.1%, in 10 Regions. See Table Below.
Hunt & Fish (2008a)	510 (F) 77.8% Lesbian Identified	None	20.8% Self-Harm, Past Year
** Described as "Self Harm" in 2003 Paper, but as "Attempted Suicide" in 2004 Paper. * M = Males - F = Females

Attempted Suicide & Self-Harm: Lesbian & Bisexual Women in United Kingdom "Prescription For Change" Studies by Hunt & Fish (2008 & 2008a)
Categories / Strategic Health Authority (SHA)	N's	% Lesbian *	% Bisexual Women *	% Attempted Suicide, Past Year	% Self-Harm, No Death Intent Past year
All England	5,043	80.9%	15.7%	5.0%	20.0%
East of England	415	81.2%	17.6%	7.4%	22.2%
East Midlands	377	82.5%	14.9%	4.2%	17.3%
London	1,330	79.9%	15.7%	3.5%	18.1%
North East	224	79.9%	16.5%	6.4%	22.6%
North West	638	81.3%	15.4%	5.1%	22.0%
South Central	369	78.3%	17.9%	4.9%	23.5%
South East Coast	449	81.1%	15.1%	5.8%	19.0%
South West	376	82.4%	14.4%	5.6%	22.9%
West Midlands	425	81.6%	15.8%	5.2%	15.9%
Yorkshire & Humber	418	82.2%	14.2%	4.6%	19.7%
England (SHA unknown)	22	86.4%	13.6%	31.8%	45.5%
All Wales	267	81.3%	16.1%	6.4%	22.7%
South East (Wales)	135	80.7%	16.3%	4.5%	20.3%
Mid & West (Wales)	81	80.2%	17.3%	11.1%	24.7%
North Wales	51	84.3%	13.7%	3.9%	26.0%
Scotland	510	77.8%	18.2%	4.8%	20.6%
Greater Glasgow & Clyde	157	81.5%	15.9%	5.2%	14.6%
Lothian	149	73.8%	20.8%	3.4%	17.6%
Other Areas	204	74.0% to 81.8%	15.9% to 21.2%	1.1% to 10.2%	19.5% to 39.1%
* Those not Identifying as Lesbian or Bisexual are Classified as "Other". Study Commentary: "One in five lesbian and bisexual women have deliberately harmed themselves in the last year, compared to 0.4 per cent of the general population. Half of women under the age of 20 have self-harmed compared to one in fifteen of teenagers generally. Five per cent have attempted to take their life in the last year and sixteen per cent of women under the age of 20 have attempted to take their life. ChildLine estimatethat 0.12 per cent of people under 18 have attempted suicide."

Lifetime "Self Harm / Attempted Suicide" Incidences Non-Random GLB Study Populations: Ireland
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Self Harm / Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Comments
Carolan & Redmond (2003)	362 232 (M) 130 (F	None	Self Harm 26.2% (95 / 362)	Volunteers: Questionnaire promoted through youth, community and gay organisations, and online. Northern Ireland Age = <= 25 Years Self-Harm / Attempted Suicide: Lifetime
Carolan & Redmond (2003)	362 232 (M) 130 (F	None	Attempted S. 28.7% (104 / 362)
McNamee (2006)	190 (M) 93.4% Gay Bisexual Identified	None	27.1% Attempted Suicide 30.7% Self-Harmed	Volunteers: Northern Ireland Mean Age: 20.6 Years, 15 to 25 Years 60% Live in Belfast or Derry/Londonderry. Self-Harm / Attempted Suicide: Lifetime
CCL (2006)	107 (F) 85% Lesbian Identified	None	14.2% Attempted Suicide 23.8% Self-Harmed	Volunteers: Cork Region, Northern Ireland Age: 8.5% (< 23 years), 45% (23-49 Years), 44% (. 49 Years) Self-Harm / Attempted Suicide: Lifetime
Mayock et al. (2009) Internet Sample Age Range: 14-73 years Mean Age: 30.5 Years Ireland Residents: 90%*	Male n = 707	None	105 / 707 14.8%	Attempted Suicide in Past 12 months, 6 months, 30 days: 1.6% (n = 11), 1.0% (7), 0.42% (3), respectively
	Female n = 377	None	89 / 377 23.6%	Attempted Suicide in Past 12 months, 6 months, 30 days: 3.7% (n = 14), 2.4% (9), 0.79% (3), respectively
	Other n = 22	None	3 / 22 13.6%	Attempted Suicide in Past 12 months, 6 months, 30 days: 0.0% (n = 0), 0.0% (0), 0.0% (0). respectively
	All n = 1,110	None	197 / 1,110 17.7%	Attempted Suicide in Past 12 months, 6 months, 30 days: 2.3% (n = 25), 1.4% (16), 0.54 (6), respectively
	Trans- gender n = 46	None	12 / 46 26.1%	Attempted Suicide in Past 12 months, 6 months, 30 days: 6.5% (n = 3), 6.5% (3), 0.0% (9), respectively
	Interview Sample n = 22	None	13 / 22 59.1%	Qualitative Part of the Study. For Above Qantitative Study: First suicide attempts were Very Much (12%), Very (35%) and Somewhat (25%) related to LGBT Identification
* Over 90% were residents in the Republic of Ireland. 4% were living in Northern Ireland.

"Attempted Suicide" Risks: Random Samples, Europe Homosexually vs. Heterosexually Oriented Youth/Adults
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Wichstrom & Hegna (2003) Additional Results	6.5% (MF*) 7.0%(F) 5.7% (M) Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	93.5% No Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	15.4% vs. 3.6% Lifetime RR: 4.3	Random Survey: Longitudinal 108 Attempters = 4.4%, N = 2,460 (In Regression Model) OR = 4.7 (3.1, 7.3), No Controls. OR = 4.3 (2.1, 5.6), With 6 Controls Variables
de Graaf et al. (2006)	82 (M) Reporting Male Sex Partner(s) Past Year	2,796 (M) Reporting Only Female Sex Partner(s) Past Year	14.6% vs. 1.6% ** RR: 9.1 Lifetime	Netherlands' NEMESIS Study Age = 18 to 64 Years OR = 10.23 (5.2–20.2) Control = Age OR = 5.57 (2.6–12.0) Controls = Age, Mental Disorders
de Graaf et al. (2006)	43 (F) Reporting Female Sex Partner(s) Past Year	3,077 (F) Reporting Only Male Sex Partner(s) Past Year	4.4% vs. 3.1% RR: 1.3 ns Lifetime	Netherlands' NEMESIS Study Age = 18 to 64 Years OR = 1.52 (0.36–6.4) ns Control = Age OR = 0.96 (0.22–4.3) ns Controls = Age, Mental Disorders
Lhomond & Saurel- Cubizolles (2006)	78 (F*) Reporting Lifetime Female Sex Partner(s)	6,332 (F) Reporting Only Lifetime Male Sex Partner(s)	25.2% vs. 6.6% Lifetime RR: 3.8	The Enveff (Enquête nationale sur la violence envers les femmes en France, National Survey on Violence against Women in France) Survey. ORs From: 4.8 (2.8–8.1) to 2.2 (1.2–4.0) With Demographic Control Variable to All Possible Controls Variables.
			7.5% (7 / 78) vs. 0.3% (19 / 6,332) Past Year RR: 25.0	Attempted Suicide in the Past Year: OR = 32.8 (13.4, 80.4) Multiple Suicide Attempts, Lifetime: OR = 5.9 (3.1, 11.4) Note: Counts Estimated From Given Percentages. ORs are Estimates. Non-responders Likely. No Control Variables.
			14.8% (11 / 78) vs. 2.7% (171 / 6332) Life, Multiple Attempts RR: 5.5
L’enquête Baromètre santé 2005 de l’INPES Results given in: MSJSVA (2008)	2.9% (M) 1.5% Homo-Sex & 1.4 Bi-Sex n = 245??	Yes	10.0% vs. 3.0% RR: 3.3 Lifetime	16,883 Men & Women, Age Range = 15 to 75 Years Elsewhere, total number said to be 30,514 for age range 12-75 years (Site) Note: It would be important to know the distribution of GLB individuals and suicide attempters over the age range. For example, what would be the results in the 15 to 40 years of age category? GLB: deternined on the basis of having been sexually active with at least one member of the same sex, in the past year. GLB Demographic Summary. The Questionnaire
	1.4% (F) 0.6% Homo-Sex & 0.8% Bi-Sex n = 118??	Yes	10.5% vs 5.9% RR: 1.8 ns Lifetime
L’enquête Baromètre santé 2005 de l’INPES Results Unknown For Youth	Males	Yes	?? Lifetime, and in the Past 12 Months	15-25 Years: Les Jeunes: The Questionnaire. Some Reports are Done Separately For These Regions and are avaiable online: Nord–Pas-de-Calais, Picardie, Pays de la Loire, Champagne-Ardenne, Lorraine, Poitou-Charentes, and L'Ile-de-France. Maybe Others? Data Sets could be grouped and the likely greater suicidality risks for homosexually oriented youth could likely be determined. Example: Westermann (2007), for Nord-Pas-de-Calais, N = 1,466, 5% of males had homo-sex in the past year (n = approx. 35), and 2% of females (n = approx 14). Blais et al. (2006), Pays de la Loire, N = 1,517, 4% of males had homo-sex in the past year (n = approx. 35), and 2% of females (n = approx. 15). A subsample of 100 is sufficient to so a suicidality analysis and more than 100 homo-sex males would be available if the data sets are integrated.
	Females	Yes	?? Lifetime, and in the Past 12 Months
FHI Rapport (2005)	(M)	(M)	See Tabled Results: 2005 National Public Health Survey, Sweden: Sexual Orientation & Transgender Related Suicidality. Results for Males & Females in Four Age Categories.
FHI Rapport (2005)	(F)	(F)
Hawton et al. (2002)	82 Males: Worries about SO ***	2,973 Males: No Worries About SO (Sexual Orientation)	11.0% vs. 3.0%	Representative Sample (N = 6,020): 16- to 17-Year-Old Secondary school Students Living in England. Data Collected in 2000-01. Lifetime Prevalence of Self-Harm: Boys (6.9%), Girls (19.9%) Greater Risk for Lifetime Self-Harm for Those Reporting Sexual Orientation Worries in Bivariate Analysis: OR, Boys: 2.0<4.0<8.3 OR, Girls: 1.6<2.7<4.3 No Contol Variables. Not Significant in Multivariate Analysis
Hawton et al. (2002)	101 Females: Worries about SO ***	2,590 Females: No Worries About SO (Sexual Orientation)	23.8% vs. 10.5%
O'Connor et al. (2009)	Males: Worries about SO ***	Males: No Worries About SO (Sexual Orientation)	?? Deliberate Self-Harm	Representative Sample (N = 2,008): 16- to 17-Year-Old Secondary school Students Living in Glasgow, Scotland. Data Collected in 2006-07. Lifetime Prevalence of Self-Harm: Boys (6.9%), Girls (19.9%) Greater Risk for Lifetime Self-Harm for Those Reporting Sexual Orientation Worries in Multivariate Analysis: OR, Boys: 1.5<3.8<9.5 OR, Girls: 1.3<2.6<5.2 Using about 9 Contol Variables. Bivariate ORs: Not Given
O'Connor et al. (2009)	Females: Worries about SO ***	Females: No Worries About SO (Sexual Orientation)	?? Deliberate Self-Harm
* M = Males - F = Females -- RR = Risk Ratio, Estimated - "ns" = Not Statistically Significant * Somewhat of a proxy for having a homosexual orientation. SO: Sexual Orientation.

Youth "Attempted Suicide" Risks: Norway Homosexually Oriented Youth
Study	Sample Size (N) GLB	Compa- rison Group	Attempted Suicide % (n / N)	Sampling Information Age Odds Ratio (95% CI)
Wichstrom & Hegna (2003)	6.5% (MF*) 7.0%(F) 5.7% (M) Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	93.5% No Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	15.4% vs. 3.6% Lifetime RR: 4.3	108 Attempters = 4.4%, N = 2,460 (In Regression Model) OR = 4.7 (3.1, 7.3), No Controls. OR = 4.3 (2.1, 5.6), With 6 Controls Variables
	20.9% (F) 8.6% (M) Some Same -Sex Sexual Attraction	--	9.1% vs. 3.6% Lifetime RR: 2.5	ORs not Generated
	13.5% (F) 8.9% (M) Some GLB Identity	--	9.1% vs.3.6% Lifetime RR: 2.5	ORs not Generated
	7.0% (F) Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	93.0% No Same-Sex Sexual Contact, Ever	19.4% vs. 4.2% From T-2 to T-3 ** RR: 4.6	N = 1,327 Females *** Predicting Suicide Attempt from 1994 to 1999: OR = 5.9 (3.2, 10.8), No Controls. OR = 5.0 (2.3, 10.6), 3 Controls
* M = Males - F = Females Longitudinal Study, 3 Questionnaires from T-1 to T3: 1992 (T-1): 12,287 students, Grades 7 - 12. - 1994 (T-2): 9,679 students, Grade 9 - 12+. - 1999 (T-3): 2,924 Youth.. - Mean Ages: 14.9 years (SD: 1.7, T-1) to 16.5 years (SD: 1.9, T-2) to 22.1 years (SD: 1.9, T-3). * No Homo-Sex male suicide attempters from 1994 to 1999. Comparing the N's in both regression models reveals that there are only about 1,133 males (2460 - 1,327) available for analysis. Responders to "Attempted Suicide" and "Same-Sex Sex" questions: Males = 1,239; Females = 1,567: Total = 2,806, but the numbers are lower in regression analyses due to non-responses to other variables: 1,133 and 1,327 (Total = 2,460), respectively. Is An Estimate of the Percentage of Suicide Attempters Who are Homo-Sex Males Possible? Maybe not possible to calculate given the data supplied by the authors. Males & Females Reporting Homo-Sex, Ever: 2,806 X 6.5% = 182. For Females: 1,567 X 7.0% = 109.7 = 100. For Males: 1,239 X 5.7% = 70.6 = 71. Homo-Sex Males & Females Who Attempted Suicide: 182 X 15.4% = 28 Suicide Attempters. Homo-Sex Females Who Attempted Suicide from T-2 to T-3: 110 X 19.4% = 21 Suicide Attempters. This would mean that only a maximum of 7 Homo-Sex male suicide attempters could exist up to T-2, the number likely being less. Furthermore, it would seem that the great majority of Homo-Sex females who attempted suicide between T-2 and T-3 (All? Almost All?) are repeat suicide attempters. Assuming "All", this would mean that there are 7 Homo-Sex male suicide attempters, for an "Attempted Suicide" Incidence of 9.9% (7 / 71), all having occurred up to T-2. Unfortunately, the authors did not report any "Attempted Suicide" results specific to Homo-Sex males, other males, or all males up to T-2. The lifetime "Attempted Suicide" incidence for males is 2.2%; 1.6% for Non-Homo-Sex males from T-2 to T-3.

2005 National Public Health Survey, Sweden Sexual Orientation & Transgender Related Suicidality
Categories	Attempted Suicide, Ever % - Suicidal Thoughts, Ever [%]
	Transgender * n = 374	Males **		Females **
	Transgender * n = 374	Homo-Bi	Others	Homo/Bi	Others
16 - 29 Years	27% n = ?	11% [47%] n = ?	4% [14%] n = ?	21% [53%] n = ?	8% [21%] n = ?
30 - 44 Years	28% n = ?	3% [30%] n = ?	3% [12%] n = ?	8% [17%] n = ?	5% [14%] n = ?
45 - 54 Year	12% n = ?	16% [21%] n = ?	3% [9%] n = ?	11% [25%] n = ?	5% [13%] n = ?
54 - 64 Years	21% n = ?	11% [33%] n = ?	4% [12%] n = ?	12% [27%] n = ?	6% [16%] n = ?
* Web Survey Data: Reported in National Public Health Survey, 2005. - ** National Public Health Survey, 2005. It 'appears" like 1,028 persons did not answer the "sexual orientation" question, and were removed from the analysis. The same applies for those "not sure" of their sexual oreintation. The final sample - 29,190 persons: '648 persons (2 percent) indicated that they were not exclusively heterosexual. The largest group among those who were not exclusively heterosexual were heterosexual with some homosexual elements (here called "hetero-homo") (304 persons) followed bisexual (221 persons), homosexuals (99 persons) and homosexuals with some heterosexual elements (here called "homo hetero") (24 persons)'.

Transgender and Transsexual People in the United Kingdom An Internet Sample, N = 872**
Frequency	Attempted Suicide / Self-Harmed in Adulthood*
Once	14%
Twice	7%
Three or More Tmes	14%
One or More Times	34.4%
Resulting from being a crossdresser, transgender/transsexual person or because of other people’s reactions to them being trans. Note: Data was solicited on suicdality before the age of 21 years, but the results were not reported. In Whittle et al. (2008), the incidence in this category was reported to be also 34%. * Sample may include duplicates? Data Source: Whittle et al. (2007)

Transgender and Transsexual People in Europe An Internet Sample, N = 985 (UK = 322)**
Frequency	Attempted Suicide / Self-Harmed in Adulthood*
Once	?
Twice	?
Three or More Tmes	?
One or More Times	29.9%
Resulting from being a crossdresser, transgender/transsexual person or because of other people’s reactions to them being trans. Note: Data was solicited on suicdality before the age of 21 years, but the results were not reported. * Duplicates Removed. Data Source: Whittle et al. (2008)

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A Brief History of the Homosexual Male Suicide Problem in Europe

A Search for European GLB Suicide Problem Information.