Don't ask, don't tell. Hidden in the crowd: the need for documenting links between sexuality and suicidal behaviours among young people.

Don't ask, don't tell. Hidden in the crowd: The need for documenting links between sexuality and suicidal behaviours among young people

S. Dyson, A. Mitchell, A. Smith, G. Dowsett, M. Pitts & L. Hillier, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Monograph Series No.45, 2003, 46pp.

The aim of the project described in this report was 'to establish whether agencies and services collected qualitative or quantitative data that might demonstrate links between suicidal behaviours and issues of sexuality for young people'. The methodology involved semi-structured interviews with informants from over 100 agencies including schools, legal/juvenile justice services, health services, and mental health and counselling services.

A review was undertaken of international and Australian literature for conclusive links between suicide and same sex attraction; however, none were found. The authors suggest that the lack of evidence may reflect the difficulty in identifying young people who are confused or undecided about their identity. A growing body of research did, however, reveal 'that same-sex attracted young people are significantly at risk of self-destructive and suicidal behaviours'.

As in the literature review, the agency interviews provided little useful data to establish a connection between suicide and same sex attraction but interviewees confirmed the research findings of increased risk of self-destructive and suicidal behaviours for same-sex attracted young people. Six agencies were identified as potentially having useful data. It was recommended that workers be trained to develop skills and expertise to 'work with young people, identify possible risk factors, elicit information in a sensitive manner and record it effectively'.

The report provides an interesting insight into the data collection practices of a range of services and the amount of contact and type of assistance these services provide to same-sex attracted young people. More specifically, it recommends that agencies review their own organisational environment and implement training for workers to ensure that policies and procedures address homophobia and promote tolerance. Two resources are provided for agencies within the report: a provisional inventory of suicide risk factors for same-sex attracted youth, and a flowchart depicting homophobia and suicide risk factors. Recommendations for the effective collection of quantitative data at the agency level are also included. Agencies that have any contact with same-sex attracted young people will find the report useful.

The report can be downloaded in pdf form from the Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society (ARCSHS) web site at: <http://www.latrobe.edu.au/arcshs/downloads/Reports/dontaskdonttell.pdf>. Hard copies of the report can be obtained free of charge from ARCSHS, 1st floor, 215 Franklin Street, Melbourne 3000, ph: [phone], fax: [phone], email: [e-mail]