Perceived Antecedents of Suicidal Thoughts Among Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender-Expansive Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color

Transgend Health. 2025 Sep 17;11(4):255-264. doi: 10.1177/26884887251376144. eCollection 2026 Aug.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: The present study aimed to examine which key antecedents of suicidal thoughts are salient to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-expansive (TNGE) Black, Indigenous, and other people of color (BIPOC) community members. By understanding community members’ perspectives and values regarding suicide risk, researchers and clinicians can explore culturally responsive ways to identify and mitigate causes of heightened suicide risk among TNGE BIPOC.

METHODS: Responses were gathered from 110 TNGE BIPOC participants via short-answer questions in an online, national cross-sectional survey within the United States. Data collection took place from December 2023 through March 2024. Participant responses were analyzed utilizing a conventional content analysis approach.

RESULTS: Participants endorsed three types of antecedents, including intrapersonal (65%), socioeconomic (22%), and interpersonal factors (53%). Analysis showed overwhelming distress (22%), hopelessness (18%), loneliness/thwarted belongingness (39%), entrapment (20%), and internalized bias (3%) for intrapersonal factors; economic instability (15%) and limited access to care (12%) for socioeconomic factors; family rejection (5%), firsthand traumatic exposure (42%), and interpersonal bias for interpersonal factors (19%).

CONCLUSIONS: Results align with past literature detailing risk factors for suicidal ideation (i.e., interpersonal theory of suicide, entrapment, and minority stress). Given that the most salient antecedents were traumatic exposure and loneliness/thwarted belongingness, future research should examine the mechanisms underlying risk for suicidal ideation for TNGE BIPOC as a result of such factors.

PMID:42445341 | PMC:PMC13358177 | DOI:10.1177/26884887251376144