Family rejection may more than triple suicide attempt risk by transgender individuals

Family rejection increases the risk of two critical health outcomes that are common among transgender individuals-suicide attempts and substance misuse-according to a new study published in LGBT Health.

The findings presented in the article "Family Rejection as a Predictor of Suicide Attempts and Substance Misuse Among Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Adults," by coauthors Augustus Klein, MSW and Sarit Golub, PhD, MPH, City University of New York, are based on data from the National Transgender Discrimination Survey. Overall, more than 42% of the individuals who self-identified as transgender or gender nonconforming reported a suicide attempt, and over 26% had misused drugs or alcohol to cope with transgender-related discrimination. The researchers report the increased risk of these health outcomes for individuals who experienced high or moderate levels of family rejection compared to little or no rejection.

"Gender minority stress and stigma contribute to the increased rates of depression, anxiety disorders, suicidality, and substance abuse in the transgender population. This study underscores the importance of family support and acceptance in mitigating that stress," says LGBT Health Editor-in-Chief William Byne, MD, PhD, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (New York, NY).