This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

Suicidality rates differ among transgender adults

Transgender adults had significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation and attempts, with suicidal ideation more common in male-to-female individuals and attempted suicide more common among female-to-male individuals.

“Suicidality and other forms of mental health distress are health disparities that increasingly are being documented and studied in the academic literature as disproportionately affecting transgender people and populations,” Robert Garofalo MD, MPH, editor-in-chief of Transgender Health, said in a press release. “With this work, Noah Adams and colleagues advance the field by conducting a meta-analysis giving important epidemiologic data that can then be used to develop interventions designed to help transgender people who are having suicidal thoughts or are experiencing psychological distress.”

To determine the average rate of suicidal ideation and attempts among transgender adults, researchers conducted a meta-analysis of gray literature on transgender suicidality in adults published between 1997 and February 2016 in Canada. Analysis included 42 studies.

Overall, 55% of participants reported suicidal ideation and 29% attempted suicide in their lifetime.

Past-year averages were 51% for suicidal ideation and 11% for suicide attempts, which translated to 14 and 22 times that of the general public, according to researchers.

Suicidal ideation was higher among male-to-female participants than female-to-male participants, and was lowest among gender non-conforming participants.

Conversely, attempted suicide was more common among female-to-male individuals, followed by male-to-female individuals and gender non-conforming individuals.

“The results of the current meta-synthesis can inform a number of potential transgender health care strategies. For example ... there is growing evidence for the role of both antitransgender discrimination and transitional services in suicidality among this population, with the former implicated in heightened suicidality and the provision of the latter in its reduction. Physical health care providers may, therefore, find it advisable to reduce barriers to transition, while mental health care providers should be prepared to support transgender clients in seeking out, preparing for, and obtaining these services,” the researchers wrote. “Nevertheless, given the continued vulnerability of this population, mental health care practitioners should also be prepared to develop and reinforce this populations’ resiliency against antitransgender stigma and discrimination, as well as prepare them for the possible increase of stress during transition.” – by Amanda Oldt

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.