The Video was made by:

JAMEY RODEMEYER,

14-year-old boy

SUICIDE

YEARS OF BULLYING

SEXUALITY.

GAY ADOLESCENTS AND SUICIDE: UNDERSTANDING THE ASSOCIATION

By: ROBERT LI KITTS

WHAT DOES “ADOLESCENTS ” REALLY MEAN:

Teenagers 13 to 21 years old. Identity vs. Role

Confusion (Erik Erickson)

To grow to maturity – mentally, socially, emotionally, and physically.

THE ABSTRACT

“GAY” REFERS TO:

HOMOSEXUALSBISEXUALS

HOMOSEXUALS

BISEXUALS

WHAT’S “SUICIDE” ?

TO KILL ONE’S SELF

WHAT’S THE POINT?

TO UNDERSTAND THE ISSUE AND TO TAKE PART IN SUICIDE

PREVENTION AMONG

“GAY ADOLESCENTS”

INTRODUCTION

1 M adolescents attempt suicide per yr.

Every 90 minutes 1 adolescent commits suicide.

3RD LEADING CAUSE OF DEATH

WHY HAVE HIGH SUICIDE RATES?

“Universal features in suicidal adolescents are the inability to synthesize solutions to problems and the lack of coping strategies to deal with immediate stressors.”

- KAPLAN AND SADOCK (2003)

WE CAN SAY THAT…

HOMOSEXUALITY IS AN IMPORTANT RISK FACTOR FOR

ADOLESCENT SUICIDE.

HOWEVER,

PHYSICIANS AND TEXTBOOKS FAIL TO

ADEQUATELY EMPHASIZE THE ISSUE.

WHY IS SEXUALITY SELDOM DISCUSSED?

Why is it seldom discussed?

Sex is an uncomfortable and embarrassing issue.

For Physicians, there’s a fear on jeopardizing their careers.

EMBARRASSMENT

Why is it seldom discussed?

Sexuality may seem irrelevant to the chief complaint of the patient.

Not being open-minded.

IRRELEVANCE

IT REMAINS INVISIBLE TO MAINSTREAM PSYCHOLOGY

AND MAINSTREAM HEALTHCARE.

AN INCREASED RISK

RUSSELL and JOYNER (2001):

Involving 6,000 adolescent girls and over 5,000 adolescent boys.Adolescents with same – sex orientation were more than twice as likely to attempt suicide.

D’Augelli et al., (2001):

350 gay adolescents between the ages 14-21.54% made their first suicide attempt before revealing they’re gay. 27% made the attempt during the same year of their revelation.19% made the attempt after revealing they’re gay

SEXUALITY ISSUE IS A RISK FACTOR FOR SUICIDE.

UNDERSTANDING THE ASSOCIATION

PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS

Gender nonconformity

Early awareness of being GAY.

Victimization Lack of Support School Dropout Family Problems Acquaintances’

suicide attempts

Homelessness Substance Abuse.

The increased risk is caused by:

THERE IS AN INCREASED RISK OF SUICIDE AMONG GAY ADOLESCENTS, WHO ARE

DEALING WITH DIFFERENT PSYCHOSOCIAL STRESSORS. BY UNDERSTANDING IT, WE CAN BE MORE COMFORTABLE ABOUT GAY

ADOLESCENT ISSUES IN ORDER TO FOSTER OPEN-RELATIONSHIPS, HELP GAY

ADOLESCENT BEING ACCEPTED, AND TO PREVENT SUICIDE.

CONCLUSION:

LET’S PREVENT SUICIDE BY:

Knowing the problem. Being OPEN. Caring to LISTEN without

JUDGING. Being a FRIEND, not just a

psychologist. Being OPTIMISTIC. Giving proper SUPPORT.

REFERENCES:

http://obit-mag.com/articles/itll-get-better-a-way-to-prevent-gay-teen-suicide

www.youthprideri.org/Resources/Statistics/tabid/227/Default.aspx

http://www.statisticstop10.com/Causes_of_Death_Older_Teens.html

www.kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/09/20/jamey-rodemeyer-suicide-gay-bullying_n_972023.html

www.nasponline.org/resources/crises_safety/savefriend_general.aspx