31%

[Guest Wry]

So, I was reading the front page on suicide statistics and noticed that it said 31% of transsexuals will wind-up killing themselves. First off, are these figures accurate? And if they are, does anyone else find it kind of creepy that someone you're talking to one day might go and off themselves another without you even knowing?

I mean, if just two people respond to this thread, statistically one of us will die by suicide.

[Guest AshleyRF]

So, I was reading the front page on suicide statistics and noticed that it said 31% of transsexuals will wind-up killing themselves. First off, are these figures accurate? And if they are, does anyone else find it kind of creepy that someone you're talking to one day might go and off themselves another without you even knowing?

I mean, if just two people respond to this thread, statistically one of us will die by suicide.

I'd say it's probably pretty accurate. Then take into account how many suicides that are accredited to something else because no one knows that the person is really struggling with GID.

Now figure out the % who have attempted suicide if you want a staggering number. I myself have been recently guilty of this one.

[Guest Chandra]

Hello Wry,

I have talked to my psychiatrist about this and she said that even terminally ill people don't even come close to the one out of three that you mentioned. She told me to the best of her knowledge that number is correct. The terminally ill number is about

one out of ten.

Pretty scary stuff.

Love Chandra

[Guest Leigh]

i would be interested to know where these numbers come from, but knowing that suicide rates for gay teens are very high, these wouldn't surprise me if they are correct.

peace&love

leigh

[Guest Kaitlyn88]

I've heard it was about 50% commit suicide by their 30th birthday, not counting attempts.

[Guest Donna Jean]

The ones that we'll never know about....

The ones that are driving down the freeway and just hit that bridge...

How many will be just only "Accidents"...the ones that we'll never know about?

Donna Jean

[Guest Ryles_D]

It's not hard to believe- just depressing. From the second we're born, society makes it clear that we don't know who we are. We come out being bombarded with misgendering, and we all know what society does to people who doesn't quite fit into gender stereotypes. Before we can even talk- most of us learn to hide who we are, that we're wrong and broken just for existing, that we have to try and destroy our gender. Many parents had never seen any signs because, by the time we're able to show signs, we've already learned how horrible it would be to do so.

I'd like to see the rest of the world think about for a moment- to imagine being 3 and knowing that a part of your existence is seen as so abhorrent that you have to hide it. That's not an emotionally stable start-up.

But being on a forum like this- we see that we aren't alone. It's scary, but there are people who've been where we are. There've been people who've had parents just as bad as yours, lived in just as unaccepting an area, and they all found a way to make it. Even if things go really bad- we can come here and find acceptance and people who understand and find hope. So I really think that places like this help avoid that.

[Guest ~Brenda~]

Everyone

As a group, transgendered people have the highest rate of suicide than any other group. The primary reason for this, is lack of support and understanding from the world.

The very reason why Laura's exists is to prevent suicide.

We provide support here for all transgendered people to let everyone know that you have a place where you can be yourself without reprisal.

The chat moderators are specifically trained to council people who feel suicidal.

If anyone feels like that they are at the end of their rope. Go to Laura's chat and get to a crisis room.

Indeed, Laura's is a Playground and it is intended to be fun (as it should be), but there is a deep and important mission that Laura's is really all about and what the moderators (forum and chat) all understand.

Suicide Prevention

Love

Brenda

[Guest Michele H]

I did a presentation to BCBSMN on TRANS related suicides and here are some of the numbers I had:

One Trans person is murdered every other day (world wide)

418 attempted suicides per day (US)

23 suicides per day

The analysis I did suggests that 25% of suicide attempts reported to the CDC have a trans component in the underlying cause of the attempt.

60 to 75% of all trans individuals will experience one or more crisis points during which they will consider suicide.

Christine Daniels when asked why she was transiting at the age of 49 replied, "Survival, I had to do it. It was this or die. As you recall, she tried to switch back to her male name and roll and then committed suicide. Just prior to killing herself she told both her pastor and her best friend that "I never stopped being Christine " and " Don't you ever think I'm not Christine" So why did she try to go back? The most common reasons for not 'coming out are

Fear of losing employment

Public ridicule

High probability of divorce

Risk of losing custody or visitation of children

Alienation from Family, friends and co-workers.

I don't know if any of the above played a roll in her decision to end her life, but I have got to believe that trying to continue a career in sports journalism as a trans women had to have resulted in subtle and not so subtle actions by testosterone laden jocks (Public Ridicule) and while she had the full support of the paper she worked for, wonder how often she was asked to go to lunch.

[Sally]

There are so many factors that play into the high suicide rate as Michele mentioned and most of them attack us before we transition - the fear of coming out - being rejected - being outed - being harmed physically.

Then add in loss of family, spouse, job and home.

Now you transition and you are fearing being ridiculed and trying too hard to pass when actually just relaxing and being yourself works much better.

Sometimes the pressures become too much and that is why we are here.

The suicide rate among transsexuals who have transitioned is lower than before by a great deal it is much closer to the cisgender community.

We have to fight our own fears because in life most of the things that you worry about the most never happen.

Love ya,

Sally

[Guest AshleyRF]

It's very frightening statistics. I thought I'd never be one of the ones who ever actually attempted it. I thought I had it all under control and one day I found myself in that downward spiral.

On the bright side... I'm seeking the help I need and I'm back on my anti depressant med. I hate that I have to take them but if it helps I suppose a false euphoric feeling is better than what I was feeling.

[Guest Sunshine]

Its really hard to keep up the hope some days.

[Guest Elizabeth K]

Guilty as charged.

I have 5 minor episodes (threatening mainly - acting out - a rehearsal my therapist says) two majors episodes (loaded gun in my hand) and one actual attempt (this past Memorial Day - pain pills overdose - all night in the emergency room - I was checking out that time.)

What is so troubling - these were AFTER my diagnosis and my starting HRT. I never got that far before - even though I was extremely depressed at times for 61 years of playacting male. It was NOT the hormones.

My issues? Loss of my job CAUSED by trying to transition at work (I now go 'don't tell, don't ask" - SUX - but my therapist gave me credit for the RLT).

AND

The big attempt and most of the episodes? Rejection by my SO - whom I had hoped would have unconditional love (not so). I had to work through therapy to understand no person is worth killing yourself for!!!

So yes - I was definately going to be a statistic. My son-in-law noticed that I had passed out and was unresponsive, and they took me to the hospital in time.

Why post this? I advocate so strongly against suicide here at Laura's. Why show I attempted it? TWO REASONS:

(1) I now understand how dark it can get. I of all people should have heeded my own advice - and PM'd or written on Laura's for help

BUT

When that low, it's sometimes to the point rational thought has left you. Action is all that remains.

(2) Because I now understand how to overcome suicide on a personal level. A suicidal person needs to know how the downward spiral starts. Preventing suicide has to start when you are NOT contemplating action. The root cause of the suicidal depression has to be identified and defused.

Just some comments

Lizzy

[Guest AshleyRF]

You are completely right Elizabeth. When you get to that point, you are completely irrational. All thoughts are on ending the pain and not on how it will affect loved ones around you.

[Guest Maelee]

The very reason why Laura's exists is to prevent suicide.

We provide support here for all transgendered people to let everyone know that you have a place where you can be yourself without reprisal.

The chat moderators are specifically trained to council people who feel suicidal.

If anyone feels like that they are at the end of their rope. Go to Laura's chat and get to a crisis room.

Love

Brenda

I am an attempt survivor. I will have the emotional scars and physical scars of it for the rest of my life. Not something I would wish upon anyone to have to carry. Plus, if you think about it, suicide really is one of the most selfish acts a person can ever do. Someone will be affected by the death whether it is close immediate family all the way down to the person that finds the victim.

All I can say is talk to people, find a close friend or someone that is qualified to talk to and get help. If only I had opened up to someone I would not have done what I did. We put up so much fear in our own minds of how people will react. Most of it is unfounded. Some people may loose their loved ones and friends, but there are always new friends to be made, new loved ones out there. You might be surprised at how many people will accept it.

As Brenda said, these forums are a wonderful resource. Local LGBT community centers, suicide prevention lines, health centers, can all be sources of help. Just talk, keeping things penned up inside of yourself just leads to a lot of problems down the road.

As others have said, I bet the 31% figure is only those suicides where the victim was identifiable in some way as being tg and where the cause of death was suicide. Probably the real rate is higher.

With help the numbers can be dramatically decreased. But those thinking about suicide have to be willing to reach out and seek help. It is but a tiny risk to seek help when your life is on the line.

Love and *hugs*

Mae

[Guest viv]

They sure are sad and depressing stats . Another reason Laura"s is so

important to our Community . luv,viv

[Guest Chandra]

One think that all of us should be proud of is the support we all give each other here at Laura's. I'll bet it has lowered that percentage 10 fold or more for members here. But we are still vulnerable. But if we remain vigilant and take care of our friends and family it will make a difference to someone some day.

By the way has any one seen or know anything about A.S. He has'nt been out here since Feb. 16th

I sent him a PM yesterday and have had no response yet, he is usually pretty prompt to return PM's

[Guest angie]

I am a suicide survivor,

My first attempt which came very close to finishing me was at 16.

Then 18 with a handful of pills, skip a whole bunch of years,then again

at 47,my coming out,then 49 when my whole life fell apart right in front

of my eye's,when the total rejection and intense lonliness almost did me in.

If not for a very observant therapist who took my words of warning seriously,

I would not be here today,I was that close,it was going to happen at any day.

That is what made my family realise how sick I was,and how much I need them

in my life,regardless of them being distant,they accept and love me,the woman.

Transteen's have a close to 50 % suicide rate,the highest of any group of

trans natured individual's.Add in teen angst of trying to fit in,then throw in being

transgender and the iherent rejection,and it add's up to a very high suicide rate.

Angelique

[Guest Chandra]

I was thinking about my last post , about how I feel that once we have made it to Laura's I think that 31% number is lowered significantly. I know that we are a very sensitive vulnerable group but we all have the combined power of all members here.

And have the feeling of family, a place to belong that helps us very much.

I just wanted to personally thank Laura and the other founders of this wonderful place of hope. I must feel great to know you have saved many lives. I can think of nothing else more important that you and all those in involved in running this place could do with your time.

One life you might of saved is mine

I can think of no words that can equally express how I feel about this.

Dearest Laura, Thank you from the bottom of my heart, for me and all of those that have once been on that edge.

Your baby little sis, LOVE, Chandra

[Guest N. Jane]

When I was a teen (1960's) it was believed that the life expectancy for a Type VI transsexual was 25 years. From the 30 or so that I knew then, before treatment was available, I would say that figure was accurate. Some were sudden suicides, many the family didn't even know why, and others were slow suicides (drugs, prostitution, and self-destructive lifestyles). Certainly by the time I was 24 I did not expect to live much longer as my suicide attempts were ever more serious right up to a miraculous escape.