Suicidal Thoughts Prevalent in Transgender Kids

[Sydney Spitfire]

http://www.medpagetoday.com/Pediatrics/GeneralPediatrics/52711

By Molly Walker , July 22nd 2015

"More than half of all transgender youth reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, and a little less than a third had actually attempted suicide, according to research done at a large, urban transgender youth clinic.

Among nearly 100 transgender youth, ages 12 to 24, 51% reported ever thinking about suicide, while 30% had attempted it at least once in their lives......."

[stephaniec]

good study , fits me pretty good

[HoneyStrums]

I dont know how relevent these words are going to be, but having thought about it a lot, and fear of making an un survivable attempt being what caused my comming out, I was watching "sense8" the other day and I caught a line,

somthing like

Out of all the violence we exsperience in our lives, it doesnt compare to the violence we cause ourselves through trying to fit in.

[Dena]

I was one of those kids who walked the line between life and death. I don't know if it was because I wasn't strong enough to contain the emotions or if the emotions were so overpowering they couldn't be contained. As the result I am in favor of getting the kids into therapy as soon as possible and I try to do my part here on Susan's in helping these kids explore their feelings. They may decide they aren't ready to face treatment yet but at least they will have enough self understanding to keep them safe until they do seek treatment.

[LordKAT]

I think many if not most teens in general think of suicide at least once. I wonder how different it is from this study. Maybe my own experience is skewing my perceptions.

[Stevie]

 Sadly these statistics do not include those that succumbed and those that were misgendered after there deaths.

[Going4Miles]

I find it hard to believe those figures aren't higher.  I would have guessed the percentages to have been closer to 100 and not just for youth, but adults as well. 

[suzifrommd]

I find it hard to believe those figures aren't higher.  I would have guessed the percentages to have been closer to 100 and not just for youth, but adults as well.

Dunno. I've met a number of trans people, myself included, who never found ourselves in that dark a place. There's a huge variety in how we experience our gender issues.

[Going4Miles]

Hmmmm ... I think the problem we have has more to do with how society handles our gender issues.  Rejection and discrimination is the real problem.   

[suzifrommd]

Hmmmm ... I think the problem we have has more to do with how society handles our gender issues.  Rejection and discrimination is the real problem.

Interesting point.

Even in accepting areas where most people understand trans people and where discrimination is rare, it's still daunting to transition as a young person. You're singling yourself out as "different" in some way, something most teens find terrifying.

[jayrobbin]

I was suicidal before I understood I was trans...I can't fathom how many went through with it without ever  understanding why they were feeling that way.

[Going4Miles]

Interesting point.

Even in accepting areas where most people understand trans people and where discrimination is rare, it's still daunting to transition as a young person. You're singling yourself out as "different" in some way, something most teens find terrifying.

I'm not a young person, but my own transition as a 46 year old trans guy is certainly daunting to me.  I attempted suicide at the age of 18, so this topic hits close to home.  What kept me going was that I realized the world is big enough for us all and the fact that I didn't want to give society the satisfaction.