Categories
Mental Health

Preventing Suicide in LGBTQ+ Teens

For children, teens, and young adults aged 10 to 24, the second leading cause of death is suicide. Teens and young adults who belong to the LGBTQ+ community experience suicidal ideation (seriously contemplating a suicide attempt) three times as often as their heterosexual/cisgender peers. LGBTQ+ youth attempt suicide five times at the rate of their heterosexual/cisgender peers.

These are self-reported numbers. The actual suicide rate among LGBTQ+ youth remains unknown because sexual orientation and gender identity are not reported in death records, and there is little research attempting to shed light on the issue. That is partly why it is difficult to determine how many LGBTQ+ youth completed suicide, despite the evidence that the suicide risk is massively higher among LBGTQ+ youth than other demographics.

However, research shows that LGBTQ+ youth are by large well-adjusted and mentally healthy. Studies show that LGB as well as transgender youth do not report mental health issues as a majority. Why are LGBTQ+ so much more likely to try to commit suicide, then? The answer lies in a series of unique risk factors that the LGBTQ+ community deals with.

Risk Factors for LGBTQ+ Teens

LGBTQ+ teens remain statistically more likely to report depressive symptoms, as well as substance abuse, and anxiety. But their increased risk of suicidal ideation cannot be explained by depression alone. Even when controlling for mental health issues and diagnosed instances of depression, LGBTQ+ teens remain more likely to attempt suicide.

Two risk factors that are unique to teens in the LGBTQ+ community are family rejection and a far higher likelihood of adolescent victimization (i.e. bullying). Both family rejection and adolescent victimization directly correlated with greater risk of suicide attempts, and suicides that required medical attention. Studies also made note of the increased risks of depression and suicide among transgender teens in particular.

Aside from LGBTQ+-specific risk factors like increased victimization and family rejection, LGBTQ+ youth also remain more at-risk for body image disorders and eating disorders, as well as reports of very low self-esteem. These tend to correlate with the risk of suicide. Notable risk factors to watch out for in teens in the LGBTQ+ community include:

    • Alcohol use
    • Other drug use
    • Signs of depression (including persistent low mood, a sudden change in sleeping habits, lack of motivation for old hobbies)
    • Signs of self-destructive behavior or maladaptive coping (including self-harm, binge eating, risky behavior)
    • Frequently talking about suicide, joking about suicide

On the other hand, research makes note of protective factors that may help reduce or prevent suicide attempts and help improve mental health outcomes among LGBTQ+ youth. These include:

    • Affirming relationships with peers and family
    • Family support
    • More legislation that protects LGBTQ+ youth
    • Changing policies and mindsets that discriminate against LGBTQ+ youth at school and in healthcare
    • Increased community awareness and tolerance for LGBTQ+ youth
    • Better access to mental healthcare

Suicide prevention is critical for LGBTQ+ youth, due to their disproportionate risk of attempting suicide. Another way to help reduce suicidal ideation is to directly target and treat the co-occurring risk factors, including mental health issues like depression and anxiety, as well as codependent substance abuse.

Suicide, Depression, and Substance Use in LGBTQ+ Teens

Substance use also plays a role in LGBTQ+ rates of suicidal ideation among youth, as LGB adolescents are shown to be at a higher risk of substance use and substance use disorders. While substance use describes the non-medical use of drugs and alcohol, substance use disorders are instances where substance use reaches a point wherein it becomes compulsive and severely self-destructive.

In many cases, LGBTQ+ youth resort to substance use to cope with associated risk factors, including stress and depressive symptoms. Drugs like alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, and different forms of prescription medication can help induce short-term euphoria, but at the cost of both an increased likelihood of using the drug again (and again), and long-term consequences related to excessive drug use (including cognitive decline, memory loss, greater risk of cancer, and more).

Treatment for teens with mental health issues and a codependent substance use disorder differ from treatment for just mental health issues. LGBTQ-specific dual diagnosis treatment aims to address substance use disorder and a co-occurring mental health issue within the context of nonconforming gender identity and sexual orientation.

Why Access to Mental Healthcare Is Critical

LGBTQ+ youth struggle with diminished access to mental as well as physical healthcare. Barriers to access include denial of service and other forms of negative bias and discrimination, including a greater risk of sexual assault from medical professionals, and delayed or inadequate care. Advocating for your loved ones and ensuring that they get access to the proper care they deserve is critical.

Mental health treatment for LGBTQ+ teens does not typically differ from treatment for their heterosexual peers with the same disorders. Mental healthcare professionals do account for the unique context of each teen’s experiences and issues, including instances of physical or verbal victimization, cyberbullying, and family rejection.

Among transgender teens who are experiencing symptoms of gender dysphoria, proper “treatment” will involve coordinating with the teen’s parents to help create an affirmative environment to help them explore their gender identity naturally and impartially, without fear of judgment. Carefully selected teens may undergo other forms of treatment depending on how their gender identity evolves, including puberty suppression and cross-sex hormones.

When seeking to reduce the suicide risk among LGBTQ+ teens, it helps to be aware of the factors that contribute to that risk, and aware of the protective factors that help diminish it. Some of the facts and science surrounding the LGBTQ+ community may be unknown or new to many parents, which is why continuing education is always critically important.

If you believe your teen or loved one is at risk of attempting suicide, it is important to get in touch with a mental health professional and consider how you can approach the topic in conversation. It is infinitely more important to address your worries than to shy away from the idea due to its controversial nature. No, talking to a teen about suicide does not plant suicidal ideas in their head. Instead, you might be able to give them the opportunity to make themselves heard and seek a solution for their issues together.

Categories
Mental Health

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health During Pride Month and Beyond

As discussions surrounding discrimination reach peak relevancy this Pride Month, it’s important to be aware of the inequality that has been a primary issue for teens and young adults in the LGBTQ+ community for decades, and continues to be a pressing issue over 50 years after the Stonewall riots.

LGBTQ+ youth have been on the receiving end of underreported suicides and fatal harassment, denial of medical care, discrimination at school and in the workplace, and vicious bullying for years and years. Organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union and Lamdba Legal have made a huge impact on helping non-LGBTQ+ Americans recognize the legitimacy of our LGBTQ+ youth and shine a light on these issues.

Yet we are far from reaching a point of equality and understanding. Just a few days ago, the current administration reversed key health protections for transgender people. A recent National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health in 2021 found 42% of LGBTQ youth seriously considered attempting suicide. Higher rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation continue to be linked to rejection by family members, negative bias, discrimination, and serious barriers to access for mental and physical healthcare.

As educators, parents, friends, and allies, our role in helping our loved ones in the LGBTQ+ community is and always has been vital. Here are some of the ways you can continue to support the mental health condition of LGBTQ+ teens and loved ones.

Supporting and Affirming LGBTQ+ Youth

GLAAD’s annual survey on acceptance shows the number of Americans between ages 18 and 34 who are comfortable around LGBTQ+ individuals has decreased from 63 percent in 2016 and 53 percent in 2017 to 45 percent in 2018. Meanwhile, the number of young people who feel uncomfortable with the idea of having an LGBTQ+ relative has increased (from 29 percent to 36 percent), and more feel uncomfortable with the idea that their child had a school lesson on LGBTQ+ history (39 percent) than the previous year (30 percent).

The slow erosion of tolerance, particularly among young people, is surprising – and some speculate it might be tied to the “newness” of LGBTQ+ identities for teens and young people who had not previously been aware of non-binary gender identities and sexual orientations other than homosexuality and heterosexuality. Nevertheless, it hints at the need for more information and understanding on the topic of LGBTQ+ identity, particularly for teens and adults who feel confused by the concepts of distinguishing between biological sex, gender, and orientation.

Spreading LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health Awareness

Aside from a rise in hate and discrimination, especially against trans people of color, another startling issue demanding attention is the lack of access to critical care for LGBTQ+ youth, as well as a lack of LGBTQ+ sex education, and general health care disparities among lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth. A report published by Human Rights Watch details how members of the LGBTQ+ community face discrimination leading to delays in critical care, leaving LGBTQ+ youth more vulnerable to mental health issues such as depression and substance abuse, as well as physical conditions like cancer and chronic pain.

The Affordable Care Act had previously prohibited discrimination in healthcare on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, yet even then issues of discrimination continued to occur. Prior to roll backs issued by the current administration that further puts LGBTQ+ youth at risk, surveys from 2017 already showed discrimination actively discouraged teens and adults in the LGBTQ+ community from seeking care when they needed it, and LGBTQ+ community members often had trouble finding alternatives after being turned away.

    • 9 percent of LGBTQ+ respondents reported that their healthcare provider used abusive language when treating them
    • 8 percent reported refusal of service
    • 7 percent reported unwanted physical contact (including sexual assault and fondling)

Among transgender respondents, the discrimination was even worse. 29 percent said they experienced refusal of service, 29 percent reported unwanted physical contact, and 21 percent reported abusive language. Nearly one in four transgender individuals refused to seek out healthcare out of fear of discrimination in 2015. Spreading awareness on these issues and highlighting the need to fight against discrimination in healthcare, both mental and physical, is critical if we wish to reduce the rate at which LGBTQ+ youth experience negative healthcare outcomes and complications related to poor healthcare, or none at all.

Speaking Out Against LGBTQ+ Discrimination and Bullying at School

A report on the effects of school bullying on LGBTQ+ youth, 85 percent reported being verbally harassed for their sexual orientation, and 44 percent were physically harassed for their sexual orientation. Compared to peers who reported low levels of school victimization, a survey of 245 LGBTQ+ individuals found higher levels of school victimization led to:

    • 2.6 times greater likelihood of depression
    • 5.6 times greater likelihood of attempted suicide
    • 2 times greater likelihood of an STD diagnosis

Across the board, higher levels of bullying and victimization led to significantly higher instances of depression, suicidal thoughts and attempts, and STD diagnoses later in life. If you have noticed that your loved one has experienced discrimination or bullying at school because of their nonconforming gender identity or sexual orientation, bring it up with the teachers and those in charge.

If the school does not already have a policy on anti-LGBTQ+ bullying and discrimination, petition for them to make one. And if the school does not have a student-run Genders & Sexualities Alliance (GSA), consider looking into organizing one, as GSAs can play a critical role in disseminating information and helping middle and high school students educate themselves on the topics of gender identity, sexual orientation, bullying, and suicide prevention.

Helping LGBTQ+ Loved Ones Seek Access to Mental and Physical Healthcare

Ultimately, public health recourse for teens experiencing victimization because of their LGBTQ+ identity is limited. It is important to encourage them to seek outside help for mental illness treatment and support, via LGBTQ+ mental health services, providers and therapists. Advocate for your loved one’s access to mental and physical healthcare and seek out local resources to help you identify LGBTQ+ friendly therapists, and specialists.

The best way to be an ally to a loved one is to help defend their basic human rights to exist, express themselves, and seek care and support from you and others. Many teens and youth are confused about who they are and lack the access to information they might be able to use to better understand themselves, which is why helping them seek information out can be vital as well. By expressing your support for them, you also empower them to find out who they are without judgment and bias.

Categories
Dual Diagnosis

Considerations for Teen Dual Diagnosis Treatment Amid COVID-19

The world has been changing around us. Many of our socialization and recreational activities have been halted, and our freedom to move about our cities as we please has been reduced. Along with reducing freedom and autonomy stemming from social distancing measures to control the virus, there is a potential increase in mental health problems. Those impacted by COVID-19 disruptions are at risk of experiencing more depression, anxiety, and substance abuse problems.

What Is Teen Dual Diagnosis?

When mental health disorders are accompanied by substance abuse, it is known as a dual diagnosis situation. It is often the case that a teen who struggles with mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety, will begin to use substances as a means of escaping negative feelings.

It is also the case that the use of drugs and alcohol – while possibly providing a short relief – actually contributes to an increase in mental health symptoms. Symptoms and substances work together in making the situation worse. Teen dual diagnosis treatment for such co-occurring disorders requires a unique approach.

Teen Substance Abuse Risks Related to COVID-19

Substance abuse is always a risky business. During the pandemic, it is even more so. The coronavirus is highly contagious, and it tends to attack a person’s ability to breathe. Many types of drugs also decrease the ability to take in a good, healthy breath. When the effects of the virus are added to the drugs’ effects, chances of survival can be decreased. Substances that are well known to decrease lung function and capacity include:

    • Opioids
    • Cocaine
    • Tobacco
    • Marijuana
    • Phencyclidine (PCP)
    • Methamphetamines

Teen Dual Diagnosis Treatment Is Essential

When the importance of social distancing to control the spread of the virus came to light, governments quickly decided what our country absolutely could not do without. Physical healthcare, food resources, and transportation were obvious choices. Mental health and substance abuse treatment support was placed at the top of the list of essential services.

Not only have mental health concerns been increasing over the past several years, but the impact of the virus on our society has directly contributed to increased reports of depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. Mental health problems are difficult enough to deal with on their own.

When substance abuse is also present, treating the underlying mental health problems can become even more difficult. In the past, treatment providers would attempt to address the substance abuse problem before moving on to the addiction’s psychological sources. Currently, providers recognize that simultaneous treatment for both disorders produces the best outcome.

Treatment Procedures Have Changed

The model of treating both mental health and substance abuse disorder simultaneously persists through this pandemic. Due to the contagious nature of the virus, however, the way that such services are delivered has been adjusted. When choosing a teen dual diagnosis treatment center, be sure to ask about the procedures that have been adopted toward keeping your teen safe.

Telemental Health and Teletherapy

As soon as social distancing measures were hinted at by government officials, providers began actively preparing to deliver mental health treatment services through telemental health. Also known as teletherapy and telehealth, telemental health refers to remote appointments conducted by healthcare providers. This can include phone calls, video conferencing, and text messaging. Ensure that your selected provider employs the telehealth service mediums designed to keep your teen’s personal information safe and secure.

Social Distancing

Many teens enjoy participating in large group activities. The presence of COVID-19 in our country has put a damper on that pastime. Schools are busy placing desks six feet apart, concerts and ceremonies have been canceled, and parties have been postponed. Teens entering treatment are likely to notice a difference in how their support groups are run, as well. There are likely to be fewer participants in each group, and the gratification of giving peers a physical hug will need to be replaced with gestures of distanced appreciation.

Sanitation

Even with safety measures of keeping a distance from others, additional sanitation practices are being implemented within facilities. The coronavirus is thought to exist on a surface for some time after an exposed person has interacted with it. Treatment facility rooms will be kept tidier, frequent hand washing is required, and patients may be asked to help maintain clean rooms. On the plus side, these stringent hygiene procedures can provide a teen with great training toward keeping a more tidy dwelling in the future.

Regular Testing

Teen dual diagnosis treatment programs often include regular drug testing as part of the recovery process. During these times, most are also offering support for the testing of COVID-19. Any time space is shared, such as in a treatment center, there is a risk of spreading the virus from person to person.

Fortunately, as our knowledge of the virus has increased, the availability of screening tests has also increased. If a facility detects coronavirus, or if a patient exhibits symptoms associated with the virus, programs need to have a plan in place. Treatment programs may have access to these virus tests on campus or have a system for transporting clients to a nearby testing facility.

Visitations

One of the most difficult aspects of entering a teen dual diagnosis treatment facility during COVID-19 has to do with the ability to visit with loved ones. Each time that a new person is introduced into the facility, the risk of potential cross-contamination is increased. By this time, many of the social distancing regulations which prohibited all visitations have been relaxed across the nation.

Rather than barring all outside contact, treatment facilities move ahead with allowing limited and safely distanced interactions. To whatever extent possible, parents, siblings, and other family members in a teen’s treatment program are an important aspect of a successful outcome.

Categories
Addiction

7 Sobering Teen Addiction Facts Parents Usually Get Wrong

If you have a teen who is struggling with substance abuse, you are not alone. Nearly fifty percent of teenagers report that they have used substances before graduating from high school. Of those numbers, only a small percentage received intervention or support toward stopping the behavior. The longer that substance abuse goes on, the more chance there is to develop an addiction. Once dependence has taken root, parents should be armed with some sobering teen addiction facts on how and where to seek help.

1. Addicted Teens Can’t Just Quit

If your teen can simply decide to stop using substances, he or she is not technically addicted. Addiction refers specifically to an inability to stop doing something, even though the action or activity is causing harm. In the case of drug and alcohol addiction, the persistent use of the substances have literally taught the brain and body that existence without it is not possible.

Physical withdrawal from drug and alcohol addiction can be physically painful, and even life threatening. When mental health problems are also present, finding the will to overcome the physical dependence may seem impossible. Intervention from loving parents and a knowledgeable treatment team will help your teen to overcome these obstacles.

2. Hitting Rock Bottom Isn’t Necessary

There is a popular myth that has circulated within our culture for quite some time. The myth proposes that people who are addicted to drugs and alcohol won’t stop using until some dire consequence forces them to see the light. This way of thinking is dangerous. No one can tell what someone else’s rock bottom will look like, and the ultimate rock bottom is death.

The disease model of addiction suggests that, like with other kinds of diseases, addiction will get worse if left untreated. Instead of waiting for your teen to reach a point where he or she realizes the full consequences of continued drug or alcohol abuse, seek to intervene as early as possible.

3. Teens Don’t Have to Want Help

The nature of teen addiction is that it initially feels pleasurable to participate in it. The negative feelings leading up to the drug or alcohol use are temporarily eliminated while partaking in it. Expecting that a teen will be completely on board with giving up an activity that he or she finds enjoyable is unrealistic. Unlike adults, teens don’t have a long-term viewpoint of consequences

Thus, teens may be afraid of entering the vulnerable scenario of a counseling program. Rather than working to convince your teen that he or she needs to go to a treatment program, utilize the parental influence that you still have, and negotiate a plan with your teen that includes required treatment program attendance without requiring complete buy-in to the process of recovery.

4. Big-Name Teen Addiction Programs Produce Better Outcomes

In both parenting and therapy, there is something called the goodness of fit. This refers to the importance of a person to feel as though he or she is understood and valued by those in a position of support. When it comes to treatment programs, not every facility will feel like a place that your teen fits in.

Try offering your teen multiple choices when it comes to choosing which program to participate in. This has the added benefit of allowing your teen to feel as though he or she has some amount of control over the situation. Once your teen has decided on where to go, help your teen to stick to the choice and follow through.

5. Relapse Can Be Part of Recovery

Feeling like a failure can be overwhelming. Teens who have attempted to escape their addiction, only to be tempted back into it, can be be discouraged away from giving it another try. It is important that both parents and teens know that relapse does not spell the end of the recovery road. During the period of time that teens are abstaining from substance abuse, they learning new coping skills and learning more about themselves.

This learned information carries forward, even if the drugs or alcohol are reintroduced. Keep in mind that the journey to sobriety more often resembles an upward spiral than it does a straight line. Your teen’s failures provide a way to recognize what is, or is not, working. Getting back into the game after suffering a loss is what builds character and resilience.

6. Punishment Can Be Counterproductive

There is a difference between punishment and discipline. Punishment refers to a negative consequence that is delivered after the fact. Discipline, on the other hand, refers to learning how to conduct oneself. Parents who attempt to administer punishment to their teen after discovering the use of drugs or alcohol may be inadvertently creating a scenario for the behavior to get worse.

Punishment creates negative feelings such as shame and anger for the person being punished. For many teens, the desire to use substances stems from already experiencing negative feelings. Adding more reasons to feel poorly is like adding fuel to the fire. Discipline and positive reinforcement are much more effective in helping your teen to find his or her own reasons to quit.

7. Teen Addiction Medications Can Help

The mechanisms of some drugs, in particular, rewire the brain and nervous system in a way that makes it extremely painful – and even deadly – for a teen to go cold turkey from using. Many treatment programs provide medical detox, which can ease the physical transition of withdrawal. Physical freedom from teen addiction can provide the space for teens to begin to explore any gaps in mental wellness which allow the temptation of continued use to fester.

Mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, are often found to be at the root of teen substance abuse, and there are psychiatric medications which can assist in relieving the mental and emotional discomfort. Medication can be useful in both getting the physical influence of the substance out of the way and in controlling the mental health symptoms which threaten to bring it back.

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