Suicide, Risk Factors for and Prevention of

Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one’s own death. LGBTQ people report disproportionately higher rates of suicidal ideation, intent, attempts, and attempts that require medical care than their heterosexual counterparts. The prevalence of suicide among LGBTQ people is higher than that of heterosexuals, but it is crucial to underscore that only a minority of LGBTQ people report indications of suicide risk. Nevertheless, the LGBTQ disparities in suicide risk demand, and have received, significant research attention. This entry describes the history of research on LGBTQ suicide; methodological and theoretical advances in the study of suicide, risk, and protective factors for suicide; prevention of LGBTQ suicide; and critiques of the field by researchers.