Stigma and suicide risk among the LGBTQ population: Are anxiety and depression to blame and can connectedness to the LGBTQ community help?
Abstract
LGBTQ individuals may be at risk for suicidal behavior due to perceived stigma and psychopathology. However, protective factors, such as community connectedness, may reduce risk. We examined depression and anxiety as mediators of the linkage between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior, and the moderating role of LGBTQ community connectedness. Among our sample of LGBTQ persons (N = 496), psychopathology mediated the association between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior. Connectedness moderated the relation between perceived stigma and depression, and between perceived stigma and suicidal behavior in the anxiety model. Therapeutically addressing stigma and promoting LGBTQ community connectedness may reduce risk for suicidal behavior.
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A 2020 survey of more than 3000 patients treated with telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic and a separate survey of more than 100 mental health clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that both patients and clinicians were supportive of telepsychiatry, were satisfied with the quality of care, and would consider using this modality in the future.
“A 2020 survey of more than 3000 patients treated with telepsychiatry during the COVID-19 pandemic 66 and a separate survey of more than 100 mental health clinicians 67 during the COVID-19 pandemic revealed that both patients and clinicians were supportive of telepsychiatry, were satisfied with the quality of care, and would consider using this modality in the future.”
From Digital health technologies and major depressive disorder (2023) · cites this paper as [67]
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- Authors
- Kaniuka, A., Pugh, K. C., Jordan, M., Brooks, B., Dodd, J., Mann, A. K., Williams, S. L., & Hirsch, J. K.
- Affiliations
- Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
- East Tennessee State University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hirsch, Jameson K.
- Venue
- Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-03-08
- Volume
- 23
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 205-220
- ISSN
- 1935-9705 (ISSN-L)
- 1935-9713
- OpenAlex
- W2920879513
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 46
- Citations by year
- 2026: 17 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 21 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 2
- FWCI
- 20.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Gay & Lesbian Mental Health (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - East Tennessee State University (East Tennessee State University) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Keywords
- perceived stigma, suicidal behavior, LGBTQ+ people, depression, anxiety, community ties, protective factors, mediation, moderation, suicide risk
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