This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn more

Suicide Fears On The Rise In The LGBT+ Community During Lockdown

Suicide fears in the LGBT+ community are soaring during lockdown in the UK as the number of LGBT+ people seeking suicide-prevention support is on the rise.

Support group LGBT Hero has seen a 44 percent rise in the people who have accessed its suicide prevention web pages, reporting 11,000 people. 

The UK government considers LGBT+ people to be at higher risk of suicide, although no national data on LGBT+ suicides is kept.


Jack’s story is just one example of how the lockdown leads to suicide. Just months after celebrating his 20th birthday, Elaine's son, Jack, killed himself. He had been in contact with LGBT+ support services, both online and in person, but Elaine says he “massively struggled” with being disconnected from the community during lockdown.

“I knew he was struggling with his sexuality,” she says. “And he was in contact with some LGBT groups. But I just wish he'd have held on. He had so much ahead of him.”

Jack had recently returned to his hometown, in the South East, after the breakdown of a relationship

“I'm guessing that lots of gay people in these situations have families that don't accept them,” Elaine says. “But we loved and supported him. He came out really young. And it changed nothing for us. It just wasn't enough though.”

Eight charities told the ‘BBC’ they have seen a rise in LGBT+ people accessing their support for suicide prevention. The LGBT Foundation has received more calls about suicide “than ever before”.

Gavin Boyd, of The Rainbow Project, based in Northern Ireland, said: “In just the last three weeks, we know of three LGBT people who have ended their lives.”

Another chief executive of a charity, in the south of England, who requested to remain unnamed, said: “We know of two young LGBT people in the past two weeks.

“We're under more pressure to deliver than ever before. The government has done absolutely nothing to help regional LGBT charities cope with the demand from our already struggling service users.”

In 2018, the government acknowledged there was a higher prevalence of mental health issues among LGBT people than the general population in the UK and launched its LGBT Action Plan, which “focused on reducing suicides amongst the LGBT population”.

Two years on, the plan has not begun.


One year on from its “updated Suicide Prevention Strategy”, the government is yet to start its “rapid evidence review” into LGBT suicide.

“LGBT lives are being lost and we need to know more. It is so frustrating. Recording this data must be a nationwide campaign,” said Helen Jones, CEO of MindOut, the UK-wide dedicated LGBT mental health charity.

Lack of national data prevents charities from securing funding and helping others. “Unless we are counted, we don't count,” LGBT Hero chief executive Ian Howley said.

Emma Meehan, of the LGBT Foundation, said: “Due to the government's frustrating lack of proper reporting, we'll never be able to put a true figure on the scale of this crisis.”

The government has acknowledged the need to improve LGBT data collection on suicide.

A Department for Health official said: “We are absolutely committed to supporting everyone's mental health and wellbeing, especially during this unprecedented period.”


Read related myGwork articles here:


Four In Five LGBT+ People Say Their Mental Health Has Worsened During Lockdown, New Survey Reveals

COVID-19: What does a global pandemic mean for vulnerable LGBTQ+ people?

New Survey Reveals That 57% Of LGBT+ People Think Their Lives Will Be Worse Off Due To Coronavirus

LGBT+ Helpline Calls Double As People Are Trapped With Abusive Families

LGBT+ Groups Fight Against COVID-19 Discrimination



Keep up to date with the latest myGnews 

 

Sign up to mygwork

________

LGBT professionals, LGBT Graduates, LGBT professional network, LGBT professional events, LGBT networking events, LGBT Recruitment, LGBT Friendly organisations, LGBT Friendly companies, LGBT jobs

Share this

myGwork
myGwork is best used with the app