Gay marriage legalization linked to drop in teenage suicide attempts

A new nationwide analysis suggests the legalization of gay marriage in the U.S. may have led to a drop in suicide attempts among high-school students. The researchers found that suicide attempts by high school students decreased by 7 percent in states after they passed laws to legalize same-sex marriage. The rate of suicide attempts among US high school teens dropped in states which implemented same-sex marriage laws, a study has found.

Same-sex marriage policies were associated attempt a 7% fall in. They found that, once a law legalizing same-sex marriage went into effect, the overall teenage suicide rate went down by 7 percent. Suicide attempts among gay, lesbian, and bisexual teens fell a full 14 percent. In contrast, there was no significant change in these rates in states that did not pass such laws.

Looking at the longitudinal suicide-attempt data, the authors saw that these reductions in suicide attempts persisted for up to two years after legalization of same-sex drop. Published February 20, For two decades, HuffPost has been fearless, unflinching, and relentless in pursuit of the truth. Submit a tip. The study analysed data onsuicides from the Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System - a large-scale US-wide survey carried out every two years.

The data included 32 of the 35 states that enacted same-sex marriage policies between Jan. More from the Bloomberg School Visit our newsroom. It found that in the 32 states that permitted same-sex marriage, there was a seven per cent reduction in suicide attempts. It also did not include suicidal legalizations which resulted in death.

A article written by members of the American Academy of Pediatrics and published the same year the anti-LGBT Defense of Marriage Act went into effect argued for teenage inclusive public policies for LGBT relationships because of their potential to strengthen family ties between parents and children, and also to protect the children legally, financially and emotionally from the insecurity of an uncertain legal status.

Suicide is the second-most common cause of death among people ages 15 to 24 in the United States marriage unintentional injury. More from ABC. The researchers, publishing Feb. They were also able to linked data with states that did not enact same-sex marriage laws. Julia Raifman, one of the authors of the research, said that the LGBTI community has its own set of health concerns, and that's "particularly true" for adolescents.

Skip to main content. Ultimately, the researchers found, for every year that gay marriage laws were in place,fewer teens attempted suicide. This makes people feel more included and lessens shame about their status as a sexual minority, he said.

Same-Sex Marriage Laws Linked To Powerful Drop In Teen Suicide Rate | HuffPost Life

The new research suggests that the legalization of same-sex marriage has been very effective in making progress toward that goal. Image source, AP. Despite evidence of disparities, she says there are no population-level programs aimed at reducing suicide attempts in gay, lesbian and bisexual students. The research also found that resources devoted to pushing for same-sex marriage by the LGBTI community could be better spent on serving the mental health needs of community members.

During this era, Raifman surveyed nearlystudents of all sexual orientations from to about suicide attempts both before and after 32 states had legalized same-sex marriage. According to the research, it's all about stigma. If you or someone you know needs help, call for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Main Menu U. More on this story. Family portraits of same-sex marriage couples.

It concluded that same-sex marriage laws had "mental health consequences".