LGBTQA+ Guidelines Development

Full Title: Development of best practice guidelines for suicide prevention of LGBTQA+ young people in clinical settings: a Delphi study.

Investigators: Dr Yael Perry, Penelope Strauss, Nicole Hill, Professor Ashleigh Lin, Associate Professor Jo Robinson, Dylan Gilbey, Michelle Lamblin, Zoe Waters

Overview:  This project aims to develop a set of guidelines outlining best practice for suicide prevention in LGBTQA+ young people. Developing best practice guidelines and disseminating them nationally and internationally has the potential to improve the care received by LGBTQA+ young people who are experiencing suicidal ideation and/or engaging in suicidal behaviours.

Contact: For more information please contact Penelope Strauss on 6319 1297 or Penelope.strauss@telethonkids.org.au

Summary: LGBTQA+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and/or gender diverse, queer/questioning, asexual and other diverse sexualities and genders) young people (aged 12-25) are at high risk of suicide. Various studies have estimated LGBTQA+ young people to be between two to six times as likely to report thinking about suicide, engaging in suicidal behaviour and/or having made a suicide attempt, compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers. Due to this risk, there is urgent need for clinical services which serve LGBTQA+ young people to engage in appropriate suicide prevention practices for this group.