LGBT Youth Suicide Prevention Project V1

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Understanding Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans (LGBT) Adolescents’ Suicide, Self-Harm and Help-Seeking Behaviour

• IRAS ID

  140179

• Contact name

  Elizabeth McDermott

• Contact email

  e.mcdermott@lancaster.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  Lancaster University

• Research summary

  In the UK, there is a lack of evidence about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) adolescents’ suicide, self-harm and help-seeking behaviour. The aim of the research is to investigate why LGBT adolescents (aged 16-25) have a higher risk of suicide and self-harm than their heterosexual peers. This study has been funded by the Department of Health Policy Research Programme and the findings will inform national suicide and self-harm policy.

  Those eligible for the study are LGBT adolescents aged between 16 and 25 years old, living in England, who have experienced self-harm and/or suicidal feelings. The study involves two-stages, over 23 months. Stage one will involve 30 semi-structured interviews (half online, half face-to-face). The interview will last approximately one hour and contain seven question topics: gender identity and sexual orientation; sources of emotional distress; self-harm and suicidal feelings; coping with emotional distress; help-seeking behaviour; experiences of mental health services; demographic questions. Participants will be recruited via the following NHS and non-NHS sites:
  i) LGBT youth organisations e.g. North West LGBT Youth
  ii) NHS community mental health services in three trusts: Sussex Partnership Foundation Trust, Manchester Mental Health & Social Care Trust, Leeds & York Partnership Foundation Trust
  iii) Mental health (non-NHS) organisations e.g. MIND

  Stage two will involve a LGBT youth online questionnaire. Informed by the findings from stage one, the questions will focus on: demography; gender identity and sexual orientation; self-harm and suicidal feelings; sources of emotional distress; help-seeking behaviour, experience of services. Participants will be recruited exclusively online via the following non-NHS sites:
  i) LGBT organisations and networks e.g. Queer Youth.
  ii) LGBT online social networks and other media
  iii) Mental health (non-NHS) organisations e.g. Mind

  In addition, a second online questionnaire aimed at mental health service clinical staff will be distributed electronically across the 3 NHS sites identified in stage 1.

• REC name

  North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  14/NW/0125

• Date of REC Opinion

  2 Apr 2014

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion