Suicidal thoughts and behaviors among gender-minority adolescents in the emergency department.

Abstract

Objective: Gender-minority youth, whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth, have elevated suicide risk compared to cisgender youth, yet few studies examine their suicide risk in the emergency department (ED). Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of and assess risk and protective factors associated with prior suicide attempt (SA) and recent suicide ideation (SI) among gender-minority adolescents in the ED.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of gender-minority adolescents in the Emergency Department Screening for Teens at Risk for Suicide (ED-STARS) multicenter, random-series prospective cohort study. Prior SA and recent SI were based on the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale and Ask Suicide-Screening Questions, respectively. We conducted Firth's logistic regressions to assess risk and protective factors associated with prior SA and recent SI.

Results: Of 6641 adolescent participants in ED-STARS, 280 (4.2%) identified as gender minority. Of the gender minorities, 72% presented with a nonpsychiatric complaint, 37% admitted to a prior SA, and 25% reported recent SI. Prior SA was associated with the number of self-harm methods in the prior 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-1.9), sexual minority (aOR 5.0, 95% CI 2.5-10.6), and mother's history of prior SA (aOR 3.6, 95% CI 1.5-9.2). Recent SI was associated with hopelessness (aOR 4.2, 95% CI 1.5-13.9), lower positive affect (aOR 0.9, 95% CI 0.8-1.0), sexual minority (aOR 8.3, 95% CI 2.5-37.8), five or more self-harm events in the prior 12 months (aOR 4.9, 95% CI 2.1-11.6), and number of illicit drug classes (aOR 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-3.2).

Conclusions: Among gender-minority ED adolescent patients, one in three experienced a SA prior to the ED visit. One in four endorsed SI within 2 weeks of the ED visit. The identified risk and protective factors among gender-minority adolescents may inform future ED-based efforts to detect and reduce suicide risk.