LGBT+ People’s Vulnerability to Suicide in Czechia: The Role of Minority Stress-Related Factors in a High Structural Stigma Context

This study explores suicidal ideation among sexual and gender minority individuals living in Czechia. Drawing on minority stress theory and the interpersonal theory of suicide, community connectedness, interpersonal functioning, and experiences with proximal and distal minority stressors were used to explore the relationship to suicidal ideation. Echoing global trends, our analysis revealed nuanced differences in suicidal ideation across various lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender+ (LGBT+) subgroups. Notably, sexual minority individuals who were also transgender or gender diverse, as well as cisgender bisexual women and cisgender pansexual, asexual, queer, or other identified (PAQ+) women, reported higher suicidal ideation levels compared to gay men, lesbian women, and bisexual and PAQ+ cisgender men. However, subgroup differences in suicidal ideation were no longer significant when loneliness, experiences of heterosexist harassment and discrimination, and social support from family were entered as covariates in the model. These findings underscore that transgender, gender diverse, PAQ+, and other sexual minority people facing loneliness, LGBT+ related heterosexism and discrimination, and lack of family support, may be more susceptible to suicidal ideation. Our study represents an initial contribution to the understanding of suicidality among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and other sexual minority individuals in a Central European context and calls for targeted, culturally responsive mental health resources and interventions.