Suicide Prevention Training: Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth

Supporting LGBTQ+ Youth  

Youth who identify as LGBTQ+ are at an increased risk of suicide compared to cisgender/heterosexual peers. In 2023, 39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. This includes 46% of transgender and nonbinary youth, compared overall to 30% of cisgender/heterosexual youth.¹ LGBTQ+ youth are at greater risk of discrimination, hostile school experiences, and bullying, which may contribute to suicide. To address this problem, Forefront Suicide Prevention has collaborated with professionals in the LGBTQ+ community in the Puget Sound to produce a suicide prevention training that will improve the safety and wellbeing of LGBTQ+ youth.  

This course explores suicide prevention strategies to support LGBTQ+ youth.  

• A self-paced online training module (60 minutes) 

• Module: Forefront Suicide Prevention LEARN® LGBTQ+ Youth 

• Free and open to everyone  

• Appropriate for adults 18 years and older and those who support LGBTQ+ youth 

Learn Specific Skills for Suicide Prevention in LGBTQ+ Youth

• Learn about unique challenges and risk factors LGBTQ+ youth face  

• Explore the public health issue of suicide and why people, especially LGBTQ+ youth, may consider dying by suicide 

• Understand the importance of conversations about wellness and suicidality in reducing stigma and increasing connection 

• Understand thoughtful storage access to high-risk lethal means 

• Identify available and recommended resources appropriate for a variety of needs 
  

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1. The Trevor Project. (2024). 2024 U.S. national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/  

References

• Bailey, E., Spittal, M. J., Pirkis, J., Gould, M., & Robinson, J. (2017). Universal Suicide Prevention in Young People. Crisis, 38(5), 300–308. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000465 

• Be Smart. (2023, February). Protecting LGBTQ+ youth from firearm suicide. https://besmartforkids.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Protecting-LGBTQ-Youth-from-Firearm-Suicide.pdf  

• CDC. (2024, July 1). YRBSS Results. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS). https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/results/index.html  

• CDC. (2025, March 26). Facts about suicide. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/suicide/facts/index.html 

• GLSEN. (2021). The 2021 national school climate survey. GLSEN. https://www.glsen.org/research/2021-national-school-climate-survey  

• Gould, M. S., Marrocco, F. A., Kleinman, M., Thomas, J. G., Mostkoff, K., Cote, J., & Davies, M. (2005). Evaluating Iatrogenic Risk of Youth Suicide Screening Programs. JAMA, 293(13), 1635. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.293.13.1635 

• Joiner, T. (2007). Why People Die by Suicide. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctvjghv2f 

• Russon, J., Washington, R., Machado, A., Smithee, L., & Dellinger, J. (2021). Suicide among LGBTQIA+ youth: A review of the treatment literature. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 64, 101578. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2021.101578 

• The Trevor Project. (2019, July). The Trevor Project research brief: Accepting adults reduce suicide attempts among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Trevor-Project-Accepting-Adult-Research-Brief_June-2019.pdf 

• The Trevor Project. (2021, October 14). Bullying and suicide risk among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/bullying-and-suicide-risk-among-lgbtq-youth/ 

• The Trevor Project. (2022, June 28). Resilience and mental health among LGBTQ youth. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/resilience-and-mental-health-among-lgbtq-youth-june-2022/ 

• The Trevor Project. (2023). The mental health and well-being of Indigenous LGBTQ young people‌. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Research-Report-Indigenous-LGBTQ-Youth-Mental-Health-Report.pdf  

• The Trevor Project. (2024). 2024 U.S. national survey on the mental health of LGBTQ+ young people. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2024/  

• The Trevor Project. (2024, July 15). School-Related protective factors for LGBTQ middle and high school students. The Trevor Project. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/school-related-protective-factors-for-lgbtq-middle-and-high-school-students-aug-2023/  

• Van Orden, K. A., Witte, T. K., Cukrowicz, K. C., Braithwaite, S. R., Selby, E. A., & Joiner, T. E. (2010). The interpersonal theory of suicide. Psychological Review, 117(2), 575–600. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018697