Minority mental health month is inclusive of ethnic groups as well as other marginalized populations such as the LGBTQ community. While it’s hard for any group of people to find good mental health care, it’s especially difficult for minority populations.
Lack of acceptance, prejudice or denial of mental illness in these communities can increase the risk of suicide. For this post, I’m focusing on suicide rates and attempts by minority populations. These are sobering statistics.
- The suicide rate for African American children and teens between 10 and 17 was up 77% between 2006 and 2016 —Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- In 2017, research by Jeff Bridge, PhD and colleagues, found that among children, ages 5 to 11, and young adolescents, ages 12 to 14, those who took their own lives were more likely to be male, African American and dealing with stressful relationships at home or with friends- Source
- LGBTQ youth are almost five times as likely to have attempted suicide compared to heterosexual youth – Source, The Trevor Project
- In a national study, 40% of transgender adults reported having made a suicide attempt. Ninety two percent of these individuals reported having attempted suicide before the age of 25 – Source, The Trevor Project
Racial and ethnic group links and suicide risk
- American Indians and Alaska Natives
- Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
- Blacks and African Americans
- Hispanics and Latinos
