Public Notice: Rise in Suicides Among Transgender Youth

Dear Friends,

Recently, our team here at MTN became aware of yet another completed suicide within the transgender community here in Maine. This is the fourth known suicide in our community in 2021, which means at just halfway through the year, we have already doubled the number of lives lost from 2020, putting us on course for 2021 to have the highest incidence of suicide since we began tracking in 2015, and the first year since then that the number is rising.

In addition, our tracking this year shows a change in profile for who is actually completing suicides. Although social isolation, recent or past family rejection, and experiences of trauma are still common threads, suicides attempts are increasingly completed by younger people (under 25 years old), and are more evenly distributed between those assigned female and those assigned male at birth.

Why do we think this is happening?

Although there is no one specific cause we can point to there are several factors unique to this moment in time that we believe are contributing to the rise in suicides:

Pandemic fatigue and isolation: social isolation from the pandemic has taken a significant toll on all of us, but young people are doubly harmed by isolation as time with friends is essential to their development. The opportunity to work from home was beneficial to many trans people who started transition in comparatively safe environments over the last 14 months, but that opportunity often cut the other way for trans youth stuck at home with unsupportive families and without access to peers and adults they could safely be themselves around.

Anti Trans Bills and Media Environment: One obvious shift over the last six months is the explosion of anti-trans legislation, especially targeting trans women and girls. Sadly, another generation of trans youth know what it feels like to have their elected leaders, families, and peers discuss their rights and humanity, and have seen adults in their lives fail to speak up for them.

We MUST work together to end these tragic losses. Here are ways for you to be part of reversing this trend.

Crisis resources:

Trans Lifeline

1-877-565-8860

Trans Lifeline is a trans-led, focused, and staffed crisis line, and our first choice for crisis support for our community. In addition to answering all calls by transgender identified volunteers, the Trans Lifeline has a strict policy of never calling the police or other emergency response services on trans people in crisis.

Trevor Lifeline

1-866-488-7386

The Trevor Lifeline is a program of the Trevor Project, and is a crisis support service for LGBTQ+ young people 24 years old and younger. In addition to the crisis hotline, it also has a text line and online chat function.

Maine State Crisis Line

1-888-568-1112

This number will take you to the Maine Crisis Line. 711 will take you to a deaf and hard of hearing alternative. When all else fails, this number is reliably staffed and has Maine specific information. However, we get consistently mixed reviews of the level of trans competency of the people who staff it, so caller beware.

National Suicide Text/Chat

https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/

Lifeline Chat is a service of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, connecting individuals with counselors for emotional support and other services via web chat. All chat centers in the Lifeline network are accredited by CONTACT USA. Lifeline Chat is available 24/7 across the U.S.

More Resources:

More crisis resources are available here.

What actually prevents suicide?

Just like how homeless shelters are important but don’t solve homelessness, crisis lines are essential but aren’t a solution to preventing suicide long term. Here are some things that we know do impact suicide.

Meeting Material Needs:

Homelessness, poverty, and lack of physical safety are key risk factors for suicide. We need to work to address these issues at a social and policy level, and offering resources (like a spare room, food, employment, mutual aid) can make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals at high risk for suicide.

Social Connection:

Many trans suicide survivors report feeling socially isolated, or having been rejected by their families of origin as major factors that led them to attempt. Among youth, social isolation is especially harmful. Think about the trans people in your life: when was the last time you saw them? Can you check in on them? Make plans? Do you have a trans young person in your life? How can you help create time and environment for them to spend time with their friends?

Responding to Acute discrimination and trauma:

Recent, and specific experiences of discrimination, violence, and truama can also be major risk factors. These experiences may be related to transphobia, or other forms of oppression and marginalization such as racism, ageism, ableism, queerphobia, or they may be isolated incidents. Early intervention is essential. Know what resources are available to you or a loved one to get help following one of these experiences. Opening dialogue about potential negative experiences before they happen can help someone feel comfortable coming to you for help when they do need it.

Safety Planning:

Related to the point above, trans individuals, family and household members can benefit from safety planning, especially around experiences of sexual violence, feelings of suicidality, and self harm. This can include having safety kits with comfort items ready to go following negative experience, talking about plans and boundaries around asking for help and when someone offering support needs to tell someone else something is going on, discussing communication channels that someone is in crisis, and making contact lists and packing go bags in the event that hospitalization or sudden loss of housing is possible.

Talking about it:

The unfortunate reality is that trans people, including young people, will encounter suicide and crisis situations as they participate in community and grow. Those situations might include personally being at risk, or a friend, or a friend of a friend, but it is an endemic challenge. Taking the time to talk about this, and opening safe communication channels is an important tool for building resilience. Contrary to popular belief, talking about suicide in general, does not put people at more risk, it actually reduces it.

Gender Affirmation:

Affirming trans people’s gender is suicide prevention. Multiple studies have found that using the right name and pronouns, allowing trans people to socially transition, and providing the resources to medically transition all help to reduce risk for suicide and improve overall mental health. If you have a trans young person in your life who is asking for these resources, we know it can be scary to allow them to move forward with big changes, but the data clearly shows that doing so with the guidance of a medical professional is often the best choice for them.

Thank you for your time and continued commitment to creating a Maine where trans people can thrive. Please feel free to forward and replicate these resources within your own network and community.

Be aware. Be safe.

Love,

MaineTransNet