Pride Month is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community, but the joyful revelry of parades and parties doesn’t diminish a community in pain.
A presentation planned on Wednesday entitled “Talk Saves Lives: An Introduction to LGBTQ Suicide Prevention,” will discuss suicide risk factors and warning signs, as well as simple ways to show support.
“Compared to the general population, people who are part of the LGBTQ community are nearly half as times higher, they have 50% higher rate of suicide,” said Luma Bonilla-Webster, a program manager for the Illinois Chapter of the America Foundation for Suicide Prevention.“One of the most common issues is depression and anxiety and we know that those things, if they are not well treated, can lead to more extreme depression, even thoughts of suicide,” said Bonilla-Webster.
“If you have someone around you who is part of the community, uplift them, check in on them, ask them what they need,” Bonilla-Webster said. Research has found people often don’t know how to start that conversation. They worry that if they ask about suicide, it could be a trigger, but studies have found it’s okay to ask, “Are you thinking about suicide?”
“Specifically naming it. ‘Are you thinking about suicide?’ Research has said people who are asked that question feel seen, and they feel relief. Somebody is paying attention. Someone cares about me,” Bonilla-Webster said.“Those folks often lack LGBTQ-competent mental health providers.
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