Gay Straight

Alliance
There is evidence that suggests
the presence of a Gay Straight
Alliance (GSA) at school is
associated with decreased
feelings of suicidality and
reported suicide attempts among
sexual minority youth.
Forming a GSA may help the
students at your school feel a
sense of belonging.

Resources
Translating Research to Practice in
Bullying Prevention by C. P.
Bradshaw (2015)
Suicidal Ideation and Attempts among
Sexual Minority Youths Receiving
Social Services by N. E. Walls, S.
Freedenthal, & H. Wisneki (2008)
Minority Stress and Mechanisms of
Risk for Depression and Suicidal
Ideation among Lesbian, Gay, and
Bisexual Youth by L. Baams, A. H.
Grossman, & S. T. Russell (2015)
Risk and Protective Factors for
Suicidal Thoughts among Sexual
Minority Youth: Evidence from the
ADD Health Study by S. T. Russell &
R. B. Toomey (2013)
Understanding Linkages between
Bullying and Suicidal Ideation in a
National Sample of LGB and
Heterosexual Youth in the United
States by M. L. Ybarra, K. J. Mitchell,
J. G. Kosciw, & J. D. Korchmaros
(2014)

Vivian Tracy
Occidental Colleges, Los Angeles, California

Suicidal Ideation
and

Sexual
Minority
Youth

What can you do to

keep the sexual
minority youth at
your school safe?

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2

Bullying and Suicidal Ideation

Bullying, peer harassment, peer victimization these contribute to
suicidal ideation among sexual minority youth!
It is time to learn what preventative measures you, as an
administrator, can take to protect the students at your school
from suicidality and suicide attempts.
Every student deserves to feel they belong at school. every student deserves access to help.

What are some of the stressors for

sexual minority youth?
Recommendations for
Bullying Prevention
Programs
Consider implementing a threetiered model that addresses
issues in education, behavior,
and public health. The
foundation of this model is
comprised of universal
programs or activities. The
intermediate level is a selective
intervention program, and the
pinnacle is a preventive
intervention program.
Adopt a broader program that
addresses issues such as socialemotional skills, interpersonal
conflict, and behavioral
inhibition. Such programs will
also help with issues of bullying.

The sexual minority youth at your school

may experience stressors that the majority
of students do not face. There are stressors
associated with the coming out process,
possible family rejection, victimization,
and homophobic persecution. These
stressors can lead the student to have
feelings of perceived burdensomeness and
thwarted belongingness, which can, in
turn, lead to suicidality.

Are there differences among the sexual

minority youth?
Yes!
Some studies have shown the sexual
minority girls report higher frequency of
suicidal ideation than sexual minority
boys.
The experience of, and the type of
victimization, an individual encounters
influences how likely they are to have
feelings of suicidality.

What can you do to help the sexual

minority youth at your school?
Studies have shown that a sexual minority
student is less likely to have feelings of
suicidality and report suicide attempts if
there is a teacher with whom they connect,
and if they feel like they belong in the
school community.
v Encourage the teachers at your
school to make connections with
students.
v Provide opportunities for all
students to make meaningful
connections with their peers.