Community Research Report: Suicide Loss Among LGB People in the United States

Suicide loss is the loss of a family member, friend, or loved one to suicide. On average, each death by suicide is estimated to expose 135 people to that loss [1]. More than 1-in-5 people will experience suicide loss over their lifetime [2]. The impact of suicide loss occurs across a spectrum of levels: people exposed to suicide, affected by suicide, and bereaved by suicide. People bereaved by suicide are more likely to face negative mental health outcomes including depression, anxiety, and even increased risk of suicide [3].

How does this relate to LGBTQ+ mental health?

LGBTQ+ people are at increased risk for suicide compared to heterosexual, cisgender (non-transgender) people [4]. Experiences of family rejection, discrimination, bullying, and lower access to mental healthcare all increase suicide risk among LGBTQ+ people [5]. We also know that LGBTQ+ people’s social networks are more likely to include other LGBTQ+ people [6]. Because LGBTQ+ people are at increased risk for suicide and are also connected to more LGBTQ+ people, they might also be more likely to experience suicide loss. LGBTQ+ people may experience disenfranchised grief following the death of a loved one. This happens when one’s relationship to the deceased is not appropriately recognized or socially accepted – for example, being excluded from funeral services, or having to hide that the deceased was a romantic partner [7]. In one study, more than 25% of transgender people reported being close to someone who died by suicide and oftentimes this was another transgender person [8]. But no studies using large samples have focused on understanding the bereavement experiences of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) people.

What did we do?