NYC's Gay High School

Homosexually active gay and bisexual young adult males are over-represented in the male youth attempted suicide problem, and the same would apply for gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth of colour. An over-representation of these youth is also predicted in the suicide problem. It has been demonstrated that gay and bisexual male youth, who form about 10% of the male population, are about 6-times more at risk for suicide attempts than heterosexual youth, and would account for about 40%, maybe 50%, of male youth suicide attempters.
These males, along with heterosexual males who were sexually abused also form about 90% of the young adult male suicide attempters. Therefore, suicidologists must begin asking and answering an important question: Why have most studies of youth suicide problems not been concerned with identifying sexual orientation, and child sexual abuse in their research work? Is this how truly scientific work should be done? Is it acceptable for suicidologists to have generally avoided doing anything to understand and help gay, lesbian, and bisexual youth despite the taboo nature of their sexuality? Was it ethical for mental health professionals until recently to have deemed all gay and lesbian people to be mentally disordered, and to have behaved accordingly? Has it been ethical, given the facts of the case, for suicidologists to have generally ignored GLB issues? Why did this happen?

This page is dedicated to the memory of Todd Pulliam.

Teen Suicide

by Richard O'Connor, Ph.D.

In the past 25 years, while the general incidence of suicide has decreased, the rate for those between 15 and 24 has tripled. It is generally considered to be the second or third most common cause of death among adolescents, even though it is seriously underreported.

No one has advanced a good theory explaining why teens are taking their own lives in greater numbers, but it's important for everyone to be aware of the problem.

A recent article by Jane Brody in The New York Times summarized research describing the major risk factors of suicide among young people:

Depression

Depression is often not recognized. In younger children and in adolescent boys, it may seem that the child is simply angry or sullen.

If this lasts more than a week or so with no relief, and if there are other signs of depression -- changes in appetite, activity level, sleep pattern; loss of interest in activities that normally give pleasure; social withdrawal; thoughts of death or punishment -- it should be taken seriously.

what's next; a separate school for wimps, nerds and geeks? They also tend to be preyed upon at school, and it seems logical that they would fare better in a setting where they weren't constantly getting their asses kicked. Does that justify the expense of setting up a separate school for them?

- Are students alllowed to go to a public school of their own choice, in or outside their own neighbourhood? (Here they are, depending on the schools' waiting lists). Wasnt that what the whole vouchers fracas is about?

- Is the GLBT harassment cross-the-board, cross-country? I had kinda expected GLB kids (dunno about the T, though ;-) ) wouldnt have much to fear anymore in a, say, Manhattan or San Fransisco school, is that too idealistic?

I'm asking cause otherwise, it seems to me that, with the school being in NY and all, the very kids who would actually need such a safe haven school most have the smallest chance of getting to use it ... ? (Stasia & I were joking, they'd probably need it more in Idaho - but there a GLB school would probably be torched, huh <wink>)

Oh yeah, is it really true that theres no separate classes for brighter, less bright high school kids in the US? Like, every 15-year old goes into the same class? Sounds like something a socialist would love <g>, but how does that work? Do kids get lots of self-study assignments and so on, so they can work ahead of their peers? How else are they kept from underchallenged boredom etc?

- Are students alllowed to go to a public school of their own choice, in or outside their own neighbourhood? (Here they are, depending on the schools' waiting lists). Wasnt that what the whole vouchers fracas is about?

- I'm asking cause Anastasia said, no. But if not, how's this work, then - how can the GLBT kids who need a safe haven get into this school? Do their parents have to move to the neighbourhood its located in?

- Is the GLBT harassment cross-the-board, cross-country? I had kinda expected GLB kids (dunno about the T, though ;-) ) wouldnt have much to fear anymore in a, say, Manhattan or San Fransisco school, is that too idealistic?

I'm asking cause otherwise, it seems to me that, with the school being in NY and all, the very kids who would actually need such a safe haven school most have the smallest chance of getting to use it ... ? (Stasia & I were joking, they'd probably need it more in Idaho - but there a GLB school would probably be torched, huh <wink>)

- How would enrollment take place? Here you have to register your kid on the waiting list of the school you would like him to attend, I think - years in advance, actually.

Oh yeah, is it really true that theres no separate classes for brighter, less bright high school kids in the US? Like, every 15-year old goes into the same class? Sounds like something a socialist would love <g>, but how does that work? Do kids get lots of self-study assignments and so on, so they can work ahead of their peers? How else are they kept from underchallenged boredom etc?