y rs de El vocac r Ad & esbian, Bisexual sgende L es y, an ic Tr rv & or Ga Se f Contributing Editors Contributing Suicide & LGBT Populations Suicide & LGBT Co-Authors

TALKING ABOUT TALKING ABOUT Remind Remind Young LGBT people, people, LGBT Young Avoid taking shortcuts (for example, avoid saying saying taking avoid shortcuts example, Avoid (for the whole of society have a responsibility to promote promote to a responsibility the whole of society have supports and accepts LGBT welcomes, that a culture who they are. people for people who help-seeking DO encourage LGBT by the and emphasize suicide, be contemplating may of supportiveavailability resources. adults who are often there hear that don’t in particular, help. can go for whom they about them and to care DO emphasize individual and collective responsibility responsibility individual and collective DO emphasize people. supporting of LGBT for the well-being and communities families, individuals, people that people see their own experiences of bullying, isolation isolation of bullying, experiences people see their own died, of those who have in stories reflected or exclusion a solution suicide as think of to likely be more they may experiencing. they are problems to on the need discussions focus possible, Whenever bullying—but anti-LGBT address systemically to suicide contagion increase don’t that do so in ways risk. “bullycide.” like terms using or “bullyingsuicide”) causes back bullying prevention connectInstead, the need for family (like parents, of individuals the responsibility to and society and friends), institutions (like schools), laws and overall health, safety the and promote ensure to of people of all ages. well-being Bullying & Suicide Bullying report youth rates higher LGBT that shows Research straight bullying than and harassment of anti-LGBT not every But of youth. the target person who is bullied are are who Many bullying is LGBT. anti-LGBT orientation sexual because of their perceived targeted someone’s to do not conform or because they expectations gender. about bullying and suicide is between relationship The bullying persistent that indicates Research complex. rejection, of isolation, feelings or worsen can lead to and depression as to as well and despair, exclusion suicidal behavior. to which can contribute anxiety, it is also important the large that note to However, majority bullying do not of people who experience suicide is a natural Suggesting that suicidal. become emphasize media to bullying can lead to response risk. contagion If at-risk increase could that details 2. 1. conversations while helping ensure that public discussions public discussions that while helping ensure conversations risk for and minimize inaccuracies about suicide avoid people: LGBT vulnerable

. Suicide contagion is most likely to occur occur is most likely to Suicide contagion . Suicide by Jumping from Bridge”). Jumping from Suicide by a newspaper or at the top of a newscast. the top or at a newspaper framed are headlines about specific suicide deaths The Commits Teen “Bullied Gay example, (for dramatically stories. page of on the front is placed of a suicide death Coverage The number of stories about individual suicides increases. number of stories The many particularacross A detail reportedis death great in • • • • • • • • TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE IN SAFE & & SAFE IN SUICIDE ABOUT TALKING WAYS ACCURATE WHAT IS SUICIDE CONTAGION? SUICIDE IS WHAT INTRODUCTION following 12 recommendations can expand these important can expand 12 recommendations following The need for safe public discussions about suicide cannot public discussions about suicide cannot safe need for The a critical part are They the of protecting be overstated. The suicide. risk at for of individuals health and safety can be reduced when media report when media in a on suicide can be reduced way. responsible However, research also shows that risk of suicide contagion risk that of suicide contagion also shows research However, among persons who are already seriously depressed or or seriously depressed already among persons who are suicide. contemplating risk has been observed when: Contagion public visibility and media coverage about suicide, and and about suicide, public visibility and media coverage phenomenon known as in suicide deaths—a increases suicide contagion Research has shown a link between certain a link between kinds has shown Research of To access some of these original resources, please visit resources, of these original some access To www.lgbtmap.org/talking-about-suicide developed by leading suicide prevention organizations, organizations, leading suicide prevention by developed Suicide for including the American Foundation Center. Resource and the Suicide Prevention Prevention people, and supporting their well-being. and supportingpeople, their well-being. in part adapted were follow that recommendations The materials and media education research existing from This guide provides ways to talk about suicide safely and and safely talk about suicide to ways provides guide This about discussions vital public while advancing effectively, of LGBT acceptance helping increase suicide, preventing in some cases may have created the potential for suicide suicide for the potential created have in some cases may risk (see below). contagion among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) and transgender bisexual gay, among lesbian, has oversimplified however, Some coverage, of that people. and underlying a number of the issues, or sensationalized TALKING suicide deaths recent of several coverage news Expansive in an has resulted be gay to known or believed of youth suicide risk discussion about national unprecedented ABOUT 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. to identify with the victim orseektoto emulate identify withthe victim them. people whohave diedby suicide may encourage others celebrity around them. orcreate idealize suicide victims anaura of DON’T life circumstances) andincrease ofsuicidalbehavior. risk (or individualsthevictim’storisk identify with the victim nation that LGBT encourage at- face—can people often causal linkbetween suicide andthebullyingordiscrimi healthy LGBTan otherwise drawing adirect, person—or experience. discrimination andexclusion that LGBT peopleoften cal consequence ofbullying, ofthekinds rejection, normalize suicideby presenting DON’T itasthelogi vulnerable individualswhohave similarexperiences. negative life event canincrease contagion among risk attributingasuicidetodirectly bullyingoranother suicidedeath.about thereasons Also, for aparticular or misleadinginformation by jumpingto conclusions proven to beinaccurate. Don’t perpetuating false risk canresultor mediareports, instatements that are later even whenbasedoncomments from familyorfriends assumptions aboutthose causes, hasty obvious. Making deaths are complex andnotalways immediately the persondied. orbelievedknown to have before occurred shortly attribute asuicidedeath to DON’T experiences individuals to imitate theact. suicide deathin leading vulnerable can be a factor Research shows thatofaperson’s detaileddescriptions describethemethodusedinasuicidedeath. DON’T (see Facebook, where contagion canalsobeelevated risks the onlythingsthat appearonsocialmediaoutletslike can increase Also, contagion risk. headlinesare often grabbing canleadto anemphasisonmessagesthat read, andattention- andtheneedto makethemshort headlines. includedetailsofasuicidedeath intitlesor DON’T child for allofwhotheyare. itisto love,important embrace andaccept theirentire and familiesofLGBT how youth inparticular—of to remind people— opportunity present animportant youth. Discussionsthat follow youth suicidedeaths thehealthandwell-being ofLGBTbuilds andsupports of LGBT andquestioningyouth. theemotionalandpsychological well-beingnurturing ofprotect againstsuicide, butalsoasacrucialpart that just and ascan acceptance—not a factor help offamilysupport DO emphasize thevitalimportance Talking Media SuicideinSocial About Headlinesare theonlythingspeople often Presenting of suicideastheinexplicable act The causesofmostsuicide underlying Research shows that idealizing Family acceptance ). - -

11. 10. 9. complexities ofsuicideideation andbehavior. based findings may be helpful in understanding the on numbersandstatistics. The following research- relyDiscussions aboutsuicidedeaths often heavily Research Findings onSuicide • • • • • • • • • • • • was a family.surviving Say andcanre-victimizeassociated act withacriminal “committed suicide.” The word “committed” isusually death “successful.” Instead, simplytalkabouta represent “failure,” orthat completed suicides are dangerous to suggestthat non-fatal suicideattempts “failed” aboutsuicide. whentalking andmay elevateof alarger story suiciderisk. encourage at-risk individualsto seethemselves aspart suicide isanatural response to bullying. canalsoelevate contagionIt by risk suggestingthat suggests the murder of a bully, not a suicide death. useterms like DON’T “bullycide.” DON’T usewords likeDON’T “successful,” “unsuccessful” or talk about suicide DON’T “epidemics.” In U.S. In surveys, lesbian,gay andbiadolescents and suicide deaths. The two are notthesame. attempts by LGBT people asindicative ofLGBT be careful notto misrepresent data onsuicide suicide deaths amongLGBT people. For thisreason, There littlesolidinformation available isvery about highest rates amongthoseinthemidlife years. Suicide rates generally increase withage, withthe female. four people(75%)whomakeasuicideattempt are die by suicideare male. However, three outofevery pleted suicide. Four outoffive people(80%)who A suicideattempt isnotastrong predictor ofcom factors arefactors linked. rejection. There isgrowing evidence that thetwo anti-LGBT hostility, harassment, bullyingandfamily experiences ofstigma anddiscrimination,including individual-level suchasdepression factors and Two for factors keysuiciderisk LGBT peopleare highratesmarkedly ofsuicideattempts. oftransgender people consistentlySurveys report straight people. suicideattempts comparedported to comparable adults have two to sixtimeshigherrates ofre suicide death or attempted suicide instead. died by suicide . Also avoid thephrase This inaccurate word orthat thedeath It isextremely It This can This - suicide - TALKING ABOUT

. © 2011 Movement Advancement Project (MAP). Project Advancement . © 2011 Movement www.glaad.org/talkingabout or American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) Suicide Prevention for American Foundation www.afsp.org Foundation Johnson Family www.jffnd.org & Messaging Resources Media Education Defamation (GLAAD) Against Alliance Gay & Lesbian www.glaad.org Messaging Resources (MAP) Project Advancement Movement www.lgbtmap.org & Safe-Schools Issues Bullying Prevention Network Education and Straight Lesbian Gay, (GLSEN) www.glsen.org & Support Crisis Lifeline Youth LGBT Project Trevor The www.thetrevorproject.org (866-488-7386) 866-4-U-TREVOR Lifeline: Trevor General Suicide Prevention, Research and Help- Research Suicide Prevention, General Seeking Resources Don’t talk about suicide “epidemics” in social media. in social “epidemics” suicide talk about Don’t things on Facebook. phrase you how Be careful that posts “Like” routinely users Because Facebook on, comments follow to want they that or them interest Teen” Gay of Another Life “Suicide Claims a post titled surviving a be painful for could family and/or create a Similarly, it. “Like” backlashpublic startpeople if to Teens” “Bullying Is Killing LGBT suicide-related post titled suicide that suggesting risk by contagion increase could bullying. to response is a natural Resources additional can provide organizations following The talking for about suicide and LGBT resources populations: • • • • section section Instead, talk about about talk Instead, (for example, details details example, (for www.lgbtmap.org/talking-about-lgbt-issues-series or the ages/personal details of or the ages/personal details of ABOUT THIS SERIES Marriage & Inclusive Relationship Recognition, Approaches, also including: issues, Overall LGBT talking in a series on effectively is one of documents This about Equality Americans, with African LGBT About Talking Tell, Ask, Don’t Ending Don’t & Gay Parents, Adoption Crimes Laws, Inclusive Hate Protections, Employment For Terminology. Guide to and an Ally’s Non-Discrimination Laws, Transgender-Inclusive About Talking Guide to an Ally’s Equality with Latinos, LGBT About Talking visit versions, downloadable on Facebook or Twitter. or on Facebook DON’T policy a specific that will its absence) (or say Talking About Suicide in Safe & Accurate Ways About Suicide in Safe & Accurate Talking example, the American Psychological Association has has Association the American Psychological example, gay excluding of health effects negative many noted marriage). from and lesbian couples how anti-LGBT laws or policies have been shown to to shown been have or policies laws anti-LGBT how (for people impact of LGBT the well-being negatively suicide.” “prevent of itself in and (for example, “Student, 15, Commits Suicide Over Suicide Over 15, Commits “Student, example, (for Bullying”) the victim on Twitter or Facebook. or Facebook. Twitter the victim on media headlines re-post mainstream problematic Don’t suicide deaths. suicide deaths. details of a suicide death give Don’t about means of death) Don’t use Twitter or Facebook to announce news of of news announce to or Facebook Twitter use Don’t • • • • • • 12. TALKING ABOUT SUICIDE IN SOCIAL SOCIAL IN SUICIDE ABOUT TALKING MEDIA may be contemplating suicide. For those reasons: For suicide. be contemplating may uncontainability that, while not necessarily problematic problematic necessarily not while that, uncontainability can quickly misinformation contexts, spread in everyday individuals who or endanger at-risk about a suicide death unique risks and challenges when talking about suicide. unique risks and challenges when talking about suicide. “sharing” or “liking” re-tweetingEverything from to social media a speed and post gives a Facebook brevity is oftenbrevity the currency brevity of social media. But that complexity and nuance communicate to can make it difficult social media can present in social media, and as a result, discussions about suicide. discussions about suicide. and dense information, In rapid of increasingly an age However, because of the nature, reach and speed of social and speed of social reach because of the nature, However, and blogs can Twitter like Facebook, media, platforms media unsafe with risks associated contagion elevate also the talking for about these foundation a strong can provide issues in social media. promoting the need for family support and acceptance, family support the need for promoting and acceptance, be people who may help-seekingand encouraging LGBT by in recommendations first three The suicide. contemplating TALKING expanding vitally important a Socialfor media are vehicle people, of LGBT about the well-being public conversations ABOUT