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Suicide Research

Summary of main findings

• 58% of respondents had, at some point, felt that their life was not worth living.

• There is a sharp rise in the number of people who first felt that their life was not worth living at age 14. This continues to the age of 17, suggesting that these may be periods of particular distress for young gay and bisexual men.

• 39% of respondents had felt their life was not worth living within the last year.

• Young gay and bisexual men are 14 times more likely to deliberately injure themselves without suicidal intent than men in the general population, and 5.6 times more likely than young men in the general population. 28% of respondents had at some point deliberately injured themselves with no suicidal intent. This compares to 2% of men in the general population.

• Young gay and bisexual men are 4.1 times more likely to have seriously considered suicide than men in the general population. 54% of respondents had seriously considered taking their own life, compared to 13% of men in the general population who have ever considered suicide.

• 51% of respondents who had previously considered suicide now no longer felt suicidal. However, 15% of respondents still seriously considered suicide at least once a month.

• Sexual orientation, depression, relationship problems and difficulties with family were the main reasons given by respondents for wanting to take their life.

• Young gay and bisexual men are 6.7 times more likely to attempt suicide than the general population. 27% of young gay/bisexual men have attempted suicide compared to 4% of the general population.

• 54% of respondents who had attempted suicide had at some point deliberately injured themselves without wanting to take their own life.

• Suicide attempts were most common in those young gay/bisexual men aged 14 to 20.

• 58% of those who had attempted suicide made only one attempt. 35% had made three or more attempts. 23% made five or more attempts.

• The majority of suicide attempts were by means of chemical overdose or cutting.

• Respondents who had made a deliberate attempt to end their life found the available professional support generally unhelpful.

Last updated 14th July 2004

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