The Role of Help‐Seeking in Preventing Suicide Attempts among Lesbians,Gay Men,and Bisexuals |
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| Authors: | Ilan H Meyer PhD Merilee Teylan MPH Sharon Schwartz PhD |
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| Institution: | 1. The Williams Institute, School of Law, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA;2. Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA;3. Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA |
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| Abstract: | One possible approach to prevention of suicide attempts is to encourage help‐seeking among individuals at risk. We assessed whether different forms of treatment were associated with lower odds of a suicide attempt in a diverse group of 388 lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) adults aged 18–59, sampled from New York City venues. Of individuals who attempted suicide, 23% sought mental health or medical treatment and 14% sought religious or spiritual treatment prior to the suicide attempt. Black and Latino LGBs were underrepresented in mental health or medical treatment and Black LGBs were overrepresented in religious or spiritual treatment. Seeking mental health or medical treatment was not associated with lower odds of a suicide attempt; seeking religious or spiritual treatment was associated with higher odds of a suicide attempt. We discuss these results and posit hypotheses for further research of this understudied topic. |
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