The Relationship Between Suicidality and LGBTQ+ Experiences of Sexual Violence

<p dir="ltr">The experience of sexual violence produces wideranging, considerable, and lifelong impacts and consequences for any person, but these experiences can be especially impactful for LGBTQ+ people for a range of reasons. Some research shows the extent to which sexual violence is perpetrated against LGBTQ+ Australians, with more than 48% of 6,794 LGBTQ+ survey participants stating they had been coerced into sexual acts they did not<br>want to engage in (Hill et al, 2020).</p><p dir="ltr"><br>These numbers are markedly higher than the general Australian population, which reports that 17% of women and 4% of men have had experiences of sexual violence (AIHW, 2020).<br>These statistics are useful for an overview of the prevalence of sexual violence for LGBTQ+<br>Australians. However, they do not tell us how to support victim-survivors. Our research sought to<br>build on the existing knowledge base by providing more detailed insights into the multifaceted ways<br>that LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of self-harm and suicidality have been impacted by their most<br>impactful experience of sexual violence.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>In 2021-22, ACON in conjunction with researchers from the University of Melbourne and University of<br>Tasmania undertook the first comprehensive survey of NSW LGBTQ+ people’s experiences of sexual<br>violence. In this briefing paper we document the impact of these experiences, including challenges<br>to their identity, and changes in mental health, through acts of self-harm, thoughts and feelings of<br>suicide, and attempted suicide.</p><p dir="ltr"><br>Mainstream research on sexual violence has consistently reported significant adverse effects<br>and impacts from sexual violence, especially in the case of sexual violence experienced during<br>childhood (Lloyd and Operario, 2012). For the LGBTQ+ participants in this research, the layering<br>effect of sexual violence and discrimination/ isolation related to sexuality and gender diversity,<br>creates significant negative impacts on the wellbeing of participants.</p>