Study Finds Suicide Attempts Higher for Teens in Unsupportive Counties

According to the findings of a recent study by Columbia University psychologist and researcher Mark Hatzenbuehler, suicide attempts by both gay and straight teenagers are more common in areas where schools do not have support systems for lesbian and gay youth. The study focused on the state of Oregon and involved more than 32,000 high school students. Social index scores were used to rate individual counties based on several factors, such as the number of schools with gay-straight alliances, schools with policies against bullying gay students, and schools with anti-discrimination policies that included sexual orientation.In those counties with the lowest scores, lesbian, gay and bisexual teens were 20 percent more likely to have attempted suicide than those LGB students living in counties with the highest index scores. The percent of suicide attempts for straight teens also increased in counties with lower index scores, though by a lower percentage. Related Media Coverage:The Associated Press - April 18, 2011"What Leads Gay, Straight Teens to Attempt Suicide?"http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/17/state/n210241D55.DTL

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