Suicide

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Suicide is the second leading cause of death among Canadians aged 15-24 according to Statistics Canada—only accidents cause more deaths. In 2007 there were over 500 suicides among Canadians under the age of 25, and many thousands of attempts. Unfortunately, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and two-spirited youth, as well as youth questioning their sexual orientation and/or gender identity, are at a much higher risk of suicide than their peers. Research results generally confirm that LGB youth have much higher levels of suicidal thinking and attempts than their heterosexual peers – 4 to 7 times more attempts. “Among lesbian, gay and bisexual youth, the risk of attempting suicide was 20% greater in unsupportive environments compared to supportive environments.”

It is unknown, however, how many of these youth identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, Two Spirit or queer (LGBTQ), or may be struggling with questions about their sexual orientation or gender identity. Increasingly, however, studies confirm that suicidal ideation and behaviour are disproportionately prevalent among LGBTQ youth in comparison to their non-LGBTQ peers:

  • 33% of LGB youth have attempted suicide in comparison to 7% of youth in general (Saewyc 2007).
  • Over half of GLB students (47% of GB males and 73% of LB females) have thought about suicide (Eisenberg & Resnick, 2006).
  • In 2010, 47% of trans youth in Ontario had thought about suicide and 19% had attempted suicide in the preceding year (Scanlon, Travers, Coleman, Bauer, & Boyce, 2010).
  • LGBTQ youth are 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers
  • Adolescent youth who have been rejected by their families for being LGB are over 8 times more likely to attempt suicide than their heterosexual peers (Ryan, Huebner, Diaz, & Sanchez, 2009).
  • A study in Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario revealed that 28% of transgender and Two Spirit people had attempted suicide at least once
  • Both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at a higher risk for suicide than their peers. Children who are both victims and perpetrators of bullying are at the highest risk
  • While suicide is never the result of one cause, bullying can have a long-lasting effect on suicide risk and mental health. The relationship between bullying and suicide is stronger for lesbian, gay and bisexual youth than for their heterosexual peers
  • 68% of trans students, 55% of LB students and 42% of GB students reported being verbally harassed about their perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.
  • 20% of LGBTQ students reported being physically harassed or assaulted about their perceived gender identity or sexual orientation.
  • 49% of trans students, 33% of lesbian students and 40% of gay male students have experienced sexual harassment in school in the last year (Taylor et al. 2011).

TELL SOMEONE. DO NOT SWEAR TO SECRECY.

Call 911 or go to the hospital emergency department:

Crisis Lines:

Community Crisis Centre (Ages 16+) 24-Hr Crisis Line: 519-973-4435
Windsor Distress Centre (All Ages) 12pm-12am: 519-256-5000

Walk-In Services:
Windsor Regional Hospital (1995 Lens Avenue, Windsor Ontario)
Windsor Regional Hospital (1030 Ouellette Avenue, Windsor, Ontario)
Erie Shores Healthcare (194 Talbot Street West, Leamington, Ontario)

Many suicidal people indicate their intent either verbally or through changes in behavior.

People who feel suicidal may:

  • Show a sudden change in mood or behavior
  • Show a sense of hopelessness and helplessness
  • Express the wish to die or end their life
  • Increase substance abuse
  • Withdraw from people and activities that they previously enjoyed
  • Experience changes in sleeping patterns
  • Have a decreased appetite
  • Give away prized possessions or make preparations for their death (i.e. creating a will)

IF SOMEONE YOU KNOW:

  • Threatens suicide
  • Talks about wanting to die
  • Appears depressed, sad, withdrawn
  • Deliberately injures him/herself
  • Shows changes in mood, behavior or appearance
  • Abuses drugs and/or alcohol

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

  • Stay calm and listen
  • Let the person talk about their feelings
  • Be accepting, do not judge
  • Ask if they have suicidal thoughts
  • Let them know help is available
  • Stay with them until connected to help
  • Take all threats of suicide seriously

Information provided by the Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex County, Rainbow Health Ontario.


Resources

Alive Canada

1030 Ouellette Avenue, Jeanne Mance Building
Windsor, ON, N9A 1E1
Phone: 519-973-4423

Provides education and information concerning suicide awareness, suicide prevention, community crisis resources, presentations and training programs are available to professionals and the general public.

LGBT Youthline

Phone: 1-800-268-9688
www.youthline.ca

Youth Line offers confidential and non-judgemental peer support through our telephone, text and chat services. Get in touch with a peer support volunteer from Sunday to Friday, 4:00PM to 9:30 PM.

Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex (Leamington Office)

215 Talbot Street East
Leamington, ONT, N8H 3X5
Phone: 519-255-7440
www.windsoressex.cmha.ca

CMHA Windsor Essex is a lead provider and advocate of community mental health services. We achieve this through treatment, collaboration, education and community engagement.

Teen Health Centre

1361 Ouellette Ave #101
Windsor ON, N8X 1J6
Phone: 519-253-8481
www.wechc.org/teenhealth_home

Teen Health is located at 1361 Ouellette and provides Primary Care and Counselling to youth between the ages of 12 and 24 years. Individuals come to us for Physical and Mental Health (individual and group counseling is available); Eating Disorders; Substance Abuse; Parent Support (support for parents and guardians of adolescents) and Pre and Post Natal for young moms.

Canadian Mental Health Association Windsor-Essex (Windsor Office)

1400 Windsor Avenue
Windsor, ONT, N8X 3L9
Phone: 519-255-7440
www.windsoressex.cmha.ca

CMHA Windsor Essex is a lead provider and advocate of community mental health services. We achieve this through treatment, collaboration, education and community engagement.

WINDSOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL – MET CAMPUS

1995 Lens Avenue 
Windsor, ONT, N8W 1L9  
Phone: 519-254-5577 
www.wrh.on.ca

Windsor Regional Hospital is one of the largest community hospitals in the Province of Ontario. We are the regional provider of advanced care in areas that include complex trauma, renal dialysis, cardiac care, stroke and neurosurgery, intensive care, acute mental health, family birthing centre, neonatal intensive care, paediatric services, regional cancer services and a broad range of medical and surgical services required to support these specialized areas for more than 400,000 people in Windsor and Essex County. 

Distress Centre Windsor Essex

Phone: 519-256-5000
www.dcwindsor.com

Free, anonymous and confidential. Caring volunteers provide emotional support, crisis intervention, suicide prevention and community referrals by telephone.

WINDSOR REGIONAL HOSPITAL – OUELLETTE CAMPUS

1030 Ouellette Avenue 
Windsor, ON N9A 1E1 
Phone: 519-254-5577 
www.wrh.on.ca

Windsor Regional Hospital is one of the largest community hospitals in the Province of Ontario. We are the regional provider of advanced care in areas that include complex trauma, renal dialysis, cardiac care, stroke and neurosurgery, intensive care, acute mental health, family birthing centre, neonatal intensive care, paediatric services, regional cancer services and a broad range of medical and surgical services required to support these specialized areas for more than 400,000 people in Windsor and Essex County. 

ERIE SHORES HEALTHCARE

194 Talbot Street West
Leamington, Ontario, N8H 1N9
Phone: 519-326-2373
www.erieshoreshealthcare.ca

Emergency room care * doctors, nurses, and other health professionals assess and treat life-threatening injuries and severe illness

Windsor-Essex Community Health

1361 Ouellette Avenue #101
Windsor, ONT, N8X 1J6
Phone: 519-253-8481
www.wechc.org

As a community Health Centre our Mission is to support the health and wellness of our vulnerable population in everything we do.

Hotel-Dieu Community Crisis Centre

Windsor Regional Hospital
1030 Ouellette Avenue, 1st Floor Jeanne Mance Building
Phone: 519-973-4435
www.hdgh.org/crisis

The Community Crisis Centre is a partnership of area hospitals and social organizations committed to providing 24-hour crisis response services to residents of Windsor and Essex County who are experiencing serious mental illness and/or acute psychosocial problems. A variety of services are provided to reach individuals in crisis, including a 24-hour crisis phone line, follow-up crisis counseling and referrals. 

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (Leamington Office)

33 Princess Street
Leamington, Ontario, N8H 5C5
519-258-2146 ext. 1200
www.wechu.org

Public health programs keep our community healthy by promoting improved health, preventing disease and injury, controlling threats to human life and function, and facilitating social conditions to ensure equal opportunity in attaining health for all.

Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (Windsor Office)

1005 Ouellette Avenue
Windsor, Ontario, N9A 4J8
519-258-2146 ext. 1200
www.wechu.org

Public health programs keep our community healthy by promoting improved health, preventing disease and injury, controlling threats to human life and function, and facilitating social conditions to ensure equal opportunity in attaining health for all.

Kids Help Phone

1-800-668-6868
www.kidshelpphone.ca

Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. Our service is completely anonymous and confidential - we don't trace calls, we don't have call display.

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