Gay students more likely to consider suicide: study

[canis_lupus]

Interesting study in The Washington Blade. While the study deals with Washington, D.C., no doubt it's findings could be replicated in schools across the country ...

D.C. high school students who identify as gay, lesbian or bisexual are four times as likely to contemplate suicide than their heterosexual counterparts and regularly report being bullied and harassed by their classmates, according to a survey released last week by the District’s public school system.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey, which is part of a national school-based survey funded by the federal government, also found that 23.3 percent of gay high school students in D.C. reported having used methamphetamine, or crystal meth, compared to just 2.5 percent of straight students.

Andrew Barnett, acting executive director of the Sexual Minority Youth Assistance League (SMYAL), a D.C. group that advocates for gay youth, said the survey findings confirm what SMYAL has learned anecdotally from the youth who participate in its programs — that anti-gay harassment is a common occurrence in the city’s high schools.

“I urge school administrators to take action to make their schools a safer place for LGBTQ students by fostering acceptance for all students and ensuring bullying and harassment is never tolerated,” Barnett said.

http://www.washblade.com/2008/4-4/news/localnews/12337.cfm

[Beregond2]

1. Another

"study" stating the obvious.

[Creideiki]

2. And another study that Administrators won't get