A new study reveals that attempted teen suicide rates in the US fell. The reason for this is not an ingenious intervention method. Experts are looking at the relationship of the reduced suicide rates to the legalization of same-sex marriage.
Attempted Teen Suicide Rates Decrease
Same sex marriage legalization may have reaped its biggest reward just yet with this great news. For decades, experts have looked for ways to curb suicide rates among teens in the US. It's only now that the rates truly fell.
Suicide is a big threat among teens and is a second leading cause of death for Americans aging 10 to 24 years old, IFL Science reported. Teen suicide is especially more apparent for teenagers who are LGBTQ.
Last year, 29 percent from the young LGBTQ community admitted suicide attempts as compared to the six percent who are heterosexuals. Researchers have found that from 1999-2015, teen suicide rates fell by seven percent. Suicide rates among the LGBTQ teenage groups, most especially, fell by 14 percent.
The study was conducted in 32 states that adhered to the 2015 Supreme Court ruling, which upholds same sex marriage. But the researchers didn't claim that the decrease of suicide rates among teens is directly correlated with the legalization of same sex marriage. The study suggests that there's an association, USA Today reported.
Moreover, it's unclear whether or not it's the political campaign that surrounded the law that helped decline suicide rates among teens or it's the law itself. Nevertheless, it's good news that policymakers from both parties need to take note of.
Same Sex Marriage is the Reason
Julia Raifman, one of the lead researchers of Johns Hopkins' Bloomberg School of Public Health, says that laws affecting adult gays make young gays hopeful for their future. Regardless of the different political views, it's undeniable that reduction of teen suicide attempts is good news that policymakers need to be aware of, said Raifman.
But the study only relied on the data as provided by 700,000 adolescents. More studies are needed to clearly identify the association of sexual orientation and health.
