Who are responsible for the suicidal tendency of LGBTQ community?

Today is world suicide prevention day. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the second leading cause of death among youth aged 15 to 24 and the third leading cause of death among youth aged 10 to 14 (CDC, 2010). Among youth who identify as sexual minorities, the likelihood of death by suicide has been estimated to be two to seven times greater than the likelihood of death by suicide among heterosexual youth (Haas et al., 2011).

Irrespective of theoretical orientation, however, most researchers, psychologists, and mental health practitioners agree that youth identifying as a sexual minority are exposed to a higher number of risk factors than their heterosexual counterparts. Sexual minority youth face several unique risk factors for suicidal ideation and completed suicide (Mustanski & Liu, 2012).

General risk factors for suicide specific to sexual minority youth include gender nonconformity, low (or lack of) family support, and victimization for being a sexual minority (Mustanski & Liu, 2013). And we always blame non-LGBTQ community because of the pressure of social acceptance from them, but we cannot deny that we as a community also very much responsible for putting lot of stress and mental pressure to our fellow LGBTQ individual. When a person is already vulnerable because of so much social pressure, we even made their life more susceptible by judging them in several ways. We judge them for their body shape, effeminacy, masculinity, height, skin color and so many reasons. Ever we spread the hand of compassion without judging them? I know you will say one have to accept themselves first and don’t need to be accepted by others, then why we as a community is trying to get the social acceptance from non-LGBTQ community! When straight community judge ourselves for our sexual orientation we protest for that, but ironically we are judging ourselves each and every time and bullying each other without even thinking what could be the impact on their life. Ever you think that sometimes how rude we are towards the persons who are fatty, sissy, short height, or not conventionally good looking. Is not our behavior influencing them thinking in a derogative way? Our hatred, bullying, and unkindness even make our life more vulnerable which tend to experiencing chronic feelings of hopelessness. Mustanski & Liu speculate that such factors specific to sexual minority youth make them the emotionally affected and increasing one’s risk for suicidal ideation and completed suicide.

Let be compassionate to each other, let don’t judge anyone without knowing what they are facing for surviving, let don’t hate each other just because they are fatty, effeminate or shorter in height, let spread the hand of friendship to each other irrespective of body shape, height, race, color and religion. Your acceptance can provide him more power and mental strength.

(Acknowledgement: Psychology today For Research information)