Persuasive Essay On LGBT Youth

Unfortunately, as many people know, suicide claims the lives of many individuals each year. Of these individuals, a large amount of them are youths as one third of all deaths amongst adolescents is suicide related (Liu & Mustanski, 2012). Now add sexual orientation to that equation and you will find that many lesbian, gay, bi, and transgender youth are at an increased risk for suicide and self-harm. As a nurse, I believe that this is a growing health concern that people can help change. In order to help change the suicide rates, especially amongst LGBT youth, the general public should be made more aware of what they can do to show their support.

Overall, the LGBT community is a definite subgroup for adolescents who are at risk for suicide. Of a demographic study of 246 youths who identified themselves as being LGBT or unsure, 31.3 % have had a prior suicide attempt history (Liu & Mustanski, 2012). A Massachusetts Youth Risk Behavior Survey reported that individuals who identified as LGBT or had any same-sex sexual contact with another person within the last year were three times as likely as their straight peers to contemplate suicide (American Association of Suicidology, n.d.). However, it is really hard to determine exactly how many of these suicide deaths are related to sexual orientation status, such as LGBT. This is because death certificates do not include gender identity or sexual orientation as a reason for a cause of suicide death (American Association of Suicidology, n.d.). Also, because of the lack of social support many of these individuals who have committed suicide may not have personally came out to anyone about their sexual orientation. Just think of all the suicide deaths that could have been prevented if these ...

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...ted individuals. Sadly, the counseling is not enough and is currently not effective as more teens have continued to take their lives. More needs to be done in schools to eliminate bullying, starting with the administration staff. It was so hard for me to understand why some administration personnel would choose to ‘turn a blind eye’ to this matter while it is happening directly in front of them in a classroom setting. Bullying is never okay. Perhaps teachers need more training and education about LGBT youths being bullied and how suicide can be an end result. If I witnessed something occurring that shouldn’t have been and now a child is dead over it, I know that would eat me up inside with guilt. Hopefully, all those who had bullied Alexander now understand to what extent that can hurt an individual and will not do it again, unfortunately it is too late though.