Pediatrics. 2024 Nov 1;154(Suppl 3):e2024067043P. doi: 10.1542/peds.2024-067043P.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Sexual- and gender-diverse youth face unique stressors that negatively impact their health. The objective of this study was to use National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System data to epidemiologically describe fatalities among identified sexual- and gender-diverse youth to inform future prevention efforts.
METHODS: We used 2015 to 2020 data from the National Fatality Review-Case Reporting System to identify deaths among sexual- and gender-diverse youth and compare their characteristics to a matched sample of youth from these same data who were not known to be sexual- and gender-diverse. Demographic, injury, death, history, and life stressor characteristics were analyzed using descriptive statistics.
RESULTS: During the study period, 176 fatalities were identified among sexual- and gender-diverse youth. Decedents’ mean age was 15.3 years. A greater proportion of deaths was attributed to suicide among sexual- and gender-diverse youth (81%) compared with nonsexual- and gender-diverse youth (54%). Receiving prior (69%) and/or current (49%) mental health services was more common among sexual- and gender-diverse youth, compared with nonsexual- and gender-diverse youth (50% and 31%, respectively). Sexual- and gender-diverse youth were significantly more likely to experience problems in school or be victims of bullying, compared with nonsexual- and gender-diverse youth (63% versus 47% and 28% versus 15%, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: Suicide was the most common manner of death for sexual- and gender-diverse youth, despite many decedents receiving current or prior mental health services. These findings indicate the need to improve and diversify interventions to prevent these deaths.
PMID:39484877 | DOI:10.1542/peds.2024-067043P
