Half of LGBTQI+ populations in Thailand have contemplated suicide

One-sixth of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and other gender and sexually diverse (LGBTQI+) populations in Thailand reported a suicide attempt, while half of them had ever contemplated suicide, a study has shown.

“Thailand has one of the highest suicide rates in Southeast Asia. Yet, little is known about suicidality among the LGBTQI+ populations living in the region who may have an elevated risk of suicide,” wrote the researchers.

The study was based on a national online survey of LQBTQI+ individuals (n=1,290; median age, 27.0 years; biological female sex, 56.5 percent) conducted from January to March 2018. Lifetime suicide attempt and ideation were the primary endpoints of interest. The relationship between sexual/gender stigma scales and suicide attempt and ideation were examined by multivariable logistic regression. [Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2022.doi:10.1007/s00127-022-02292-0]

Results showed that the prevalence of lifetime suicide attempt and ideation was 16.8 percent (95 precent confidence interval [CI], 14.8–19.0) and 50.7 percent (95 precent CI, 47.9–53.4), respectively. “These rates were similar across subgroups of LGBTQI+ participants, except for genderqueer/non-binary persons and transgender women who reported a higher lifetime prevalence of suicide attempt [27 percent for genderqueer/non-binary persons and 21 percent for transgender women],” reported the researchers.

In multivariable analyses, higher levels of perceived and enacted stigma were both positively and independently associated with suicide attempt (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.25; 95 percent CI, 1.10–1.41; p=0.001 for perceived stigma; aOR, 1.31; 95 percent CI, 1.11–1.55; p=0.002 for enacted stigma) and suicide ideation (aOR, 1.30; 95 percent CI, 1.17–1.43; p<0.001 for perceived stigma; aOR, 1.34; 95 percent CI, 1.14–1.58; p=0.001 for enacted stigma), indicating that individuals who reported higher level of perceived and enacted stigma were significantly more likely to report lifetime suicide attempt and ideation.

In addition, social support was negative and independently associated with lifetime suicide attempt and ideation (aOR, 0.79; 95 percent CI, 0.70–0.89; p<0.001 and aOR, 0.72; 95 percent CI, 0.65–0.79; p<0.001, respectively).

Of concern, a national survey of non-LGBT individuals’ perception in Thailand showed that most respondents (61 percent) found being LGBT a problem, and 63 percent would feel uncomfortable if a family member were to fall in love with an LGBT person. Also, half of all LGBT people (50 percent) experienced some form of discrimination in the family. These findings revealed low acceptance of LGBT in Thailand. [https://www.undp.org/thailand/publications/tolerance-not-inclusion]

“Taken together with our findings, it is clear that multilevel interventions are needed to decrease stigma and suicide [rates] among LGBTQ+ people in Thailand,” recommended the researchers. “These interventions should include increasing suicide prevention efforts, adoption of anti-discrimination policies across multiple sectors of society, and provision of culturally competent mental healthcare for [LGBTQ+ populations].”