Effects of “It Gets Better” Suicide Prevention Videos on Youth Identifying as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Other Sexual or Gender Minorities: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• DOI: 10.1089/lgbt.2021.0383
• Publication Date: 2022-05-16T15:05:13Z
• Authors: Stefanie Kirchner; Benedikt Till; Martin Plöderl; Thomas Niederkrot...
• Keywords: Suicide Prevention; Adolescent; Gender Identity; Original Articles; Transgender Persons; Suicidal Ideation; Sexual and Gender Minorities; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Bisexuality; Humans; Female

Purpose: The "It Gets Better" project (IGBP) features video narratives of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer persons or with other sexual gender minority identities (LGBTQ+) overcoming coming-out-related difficulties. This is the first experimental study investigating effects these videos. Methods: We conducted a double-blind randomized controlled trial on-site in Austria and online German-language settings from January to November 2020 LGBTQ+ youth (14-22 years; n = 483), an IGBP (n 242) control 241). Suicidal ideation (primary outcome), help-seeking intentions, hopelessness, mood, identity were assessed at baseline (T1), postexposure (T2), 4-week follow-up (T3). differences among identities, orientations, regard depressive symptoms, role identification. Data analyzed linear mixed models mediation analysis. Results: There was no overall effect on suicidal ideation, but nonbinary/transgender individuals experienced small-sized improvement (T2: mean change [MC] MC -0.06 [95% confidence interval {CI} -0.16 0.05], p 0.60; difference [MD] controls MD -0.42 CI -0.79 -0.06], 0.02, d -0.10). An indirect preventive T2 through degree identification protagonist observed. intentions intervention group 0.25 0.15 0.35], < 0.001; 0.28 0.01 0.54], 0.05, 0.09). Conclusion: Video featuring coping might have some potential decrease encourage vulnerable identifying videos, are small short-lived. Study Registration: German Clinical Trial Registry (DRKS00019913).