Native American LGBT+ Youth Face High Suicide Risks, New Research Reveals

A new research brief released by the Trevor Project has revealed that American Indian / Alaskan Native youth face high risks of suicide and mental health issues.

More specifically, American Indian and Alaskan Native LGBT+ youth are 2.5 more likely to report a suicide attempt within the past year compared to their LGBT+ peers. Additionally, when these youth reported LGBT-based victimisation, they were at more than 3 times the risk for attempting suicide, and when they reported LGBT-based discrimination, they were at more than 2.5 the risk.

Almost half (49 percent) of AI/AN LGBTQ+ youth have reported being physically harmed or threatened because they are LGBT+, compared to 31 percent of non-AI/AN LGBT+ youth.

Furthermore, 50 percent of American Indian/Alaskan Native LGBT+ youth experience housing instability, compared to 28 percent of non-AI/AN LGBT+ youth, 18 percent experience food insecurity compared to 7 percent of other LGBT+ youth, and 14 percent are in foster care, compared to 4 percent of other LGBT+ youth, as the ‘Advocate’ reports.

“It is apparent that exposure to both LGBTQ-based stigma and racism has compounding effects and places American Indian/Alaskan Native youth who are Two-Spirit/LGBTQ at greater risk for suicide,” said Amy Green, Ph.D., Director of Research at the Trevor Project in a statement. “Further, the disproportionality in reports of foster care, housing instability, and food insecurity highlights the devastating impact of historical oppression and trauma on American Indian/Alaskan Native.”

In good news, the report also revealed that if youth have support from family and at schools, their suicide risk is reduced by nearly 60 percent.

The study also found that half of AI/AN LGBTQ+ youth are trans, nonbinary, or questioning their gender, with 20 percent identify as Two-Spirit.

Green said that there’s work to be done. “There is an urgent need to de-colonize systems that perpetuate the oppression of American Indian/Alaskan Native people,” she said. As long as the systems of oppression that harm American Indian and Alaskan Native people are in place, mental health cannot improve. “The Trevor Project will continue to advocate for intersectional programs and practices and increased investment in suicide prevention initiatives and research that specifically consider the unique needs of American Indian/Alaskan Native Youth.”

Read related myGwork articles here:

Suicide Prevention and LGBTQ+ Rights Are Intrinsically Linked

Bisexual People Up To Six Times More Likely To Self-Injure

One In Three Black Trans Youth Attempt Suicide, New Report Reveals

Top 10 Apps For Mental Health Support

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