Exploration of the Intersections of Race, Nonbinary Gender, Sex Assigned at Birth, and Deaf Identity on Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the prevalence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, including suicidal ideation (SI), suicide attempts (SA), and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) deaf adults.

METHODS

This project used data collected as part of the 2017 TransLifeline Mental Health Survey. Study participants include N = 4245, self-identified TGD adults ages 18-87 that currently live in the United States. Chi-square analyses compared endorsement of lifetime and recent SI, SAs, and NSSI between TGD deaf and TGD hearing adults.

RESULTS

Compared to their TGD hearing peers, TGD deaf participants, regardless of gender identity, were more likely to endorse hospitalization for SI, despite equivalent endorsement of past-year and lifetime SI compared to their TGD hearing peers. Similarly, TGD deaf participants, regardless of gender or racial/ethnic identity, were more likely to endorse a lifetime hospitalization for a SA. Lastly, although TGD deaf participants were equally likely as their TGD hearing peers to endorse lifetime experiences of NSSI, TGD deaf participants were more likely to report hospitalization for NSSI.

CONCLUSIONS

TGD deaf adults are at an increased risk of making a SA in their lifetime and at an increased risk for hospitalization for SI, SAs, and NSSI.