Nationwide, 17.7% of all students; 14.8% of heterosexual students; 42.8% of gay, lesbian, or bisexual students; and 31.9% of not sure students had seriously considered attempting suicide during the 12 months before the survey (Table25). The prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students (42.8%) than heterosexual students (14.8%) and not sure students (31.9%) and higher among not sure students (31.9%) than heterosexual students (14.8%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among lesbian and bisexual students (46.6%) than heterosexual students (19.6%) and not sure students (32.6%) and higher among not sure students (32.6%) than heterosexual students (19.6%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among gay and bisexual students (32.7%) and not sure students (30.9%) than heterosexual students (10.6%). The prevalence also was higher among heterosexual female students (19.6%) than heterosexual male students (10.6%) and higher among lesbian and bisexual female students (46.6%) than gay and bisexual male students (32.7%).

Across 24 states, the prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide ranged from 10.4% to 16.5% (median: 12.8%) among heterosexual students; from 32.6% to 55.4% (median: 42.1%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 23.3% to 44.0% (median: 30.8%) among not sure students. Across 19 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 8.4% to 15.4% (median: 11.6%) among heterosexual students; from 27.0% to 43.4% (median: 38.4%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 17.5% to 39.9% (median: 29.2%) among not sure students.

Nationwide, 19.7% of students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, 44.5% of students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and 12.0% of students who had no sexual contact had seriously considered attempting suicide. The prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes (44.5%) than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (19.7%) and students who had no sexual contact (12.0%) and higher among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (19.7%) than students who had no sexual contact (12.0%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only females and with both sexes (45.6%) than those who had sexual contact with only males (26.2%) and those who had no sexual contact (16.5%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only males (26.2%) than those who had no sexual contact (16.5%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only males and with both sexes (41.2%) than those who had sexual contact with only females (14.6%) and those who had no sexual contact (7.3%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only females (14.6%) than those who had no sexual contact (7.3%). The prevalence also was higher among female students who had sexual contact with only males (26.2%) than male students who had sexual contact with only females (14.6%) and higher among female students who had no sexual contact (16.5%) than male students who had no sexual contact (7.3%).

Across 22 states, the prevalence of having seriously considered attempting suicide ranged from 14.3% to 23.3% (median: 17.0%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 32.0% to 55.0% (median: 41.5%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 7.5% to 14.7% (median: 10.2%) among students who had no sexual contact. Across 19 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 10.5% to 19.5% (median: 15.2%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 25.8% to 44.6% (median: 35.0%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 5.7% to 14.6% (median: 10.8%) among students who had no sexual contact.

Made a Suicide Plan

During the 12 months before the survey, 14.6% of all students; 11.9% of heterosexual students; 38.2% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and 27.9% of not sure students had made a plan about how they would attempt suicide (Table 26). The prevalence of having made a suicide plan was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students (38.2%) than heterosexual students (11.9%) and not sure students (27.9%) and higher among not sure students (27.9%) than heterosexual students (11.9%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among lesbian and bisexual students (42.0%) than heterosexual students (15.7%) and not sure students (29.3%) and higher among not sure students (29.3%) than heterosexual students (15.7%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among gay and bisexual students (27.0%) and not sure students (23.6%) than heterosexual students (8.6%). The prevalence also was higher among heterosexual female students (15.7%) than heterosexual male students (8.6%) and higher among lesbian and bisexual female students (42.0%) than gay and bisexual male students (27.0%).

Across 23 states, the prevalence of having made a suicide plan ranged from 8.3% to 15.4% (median: 11.3%) among heterosexual students; from 29.0% to 51.9% (median: 37.4%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 18.8% to 40.8% (median: 27.7%) among not sure students. Across 16 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 6.8% to 15.4% (median: 11.0%) among heterosexual students; from 25.3% to 44.3% (median: 31.8%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 8.5% to 39.0% (median: 26.3%) among not sure students.

Nationwide, 15.6% of students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, 39.6% of students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and 10.1% of students who had no sexual contact had made a suicide plan. The prevalence of having made a suicide plan was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes (39.6%) than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (15.6%) and students who had no sexual contact (10.1%) and higher among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (15.6%) than students who had no sexual contact (10.1%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only females or with both sexes (41.5%) than those who had sexual contact with only males (21.2%) and those who had no sexual contact (13.7%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only males (21.2%) than those who had no sexual contact (13.7%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only males or with both sexes (33.8%) than those who had sexual contact with only females (11.2%) and those who had no sexual contact (6.3%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only females (11.2%) than those who had no sexual contact (6.3%). The prevalence also was higher among female students who had sexual contact with only males (21.2%) than male students who had sexual contact with only females (11.2%) and higher among female students who had no sexual contact (13.7%) than male students who had no sexual contact (6.3%).Across 21 states, the prevalence of having made a suicide plan ranged from 11.7% to 19.8% (median: 15.0%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 24.9% to 44.4% (median: 35.7%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 6.6% to 12.8% (median: 9.0%) among students who had no sexual contact. Across 16 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 9.5% to 18.9% (median: 13.3%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 18.2% to 37.6% (median: 30.9%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 4.6% to 12.9% (median: 9.8%) among students who had no sexual contact.

Attempted Suicide

Nationwide, 8.6% of all students; 6.4% of heterosexual students; 29.4% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and 13.7% of not sure students had attempted suicide one or more times during the 12 months before the survey (Table 27). The prevalence of having attempted suicide was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students (29.4%) than heterosexual students (6.4%) and not sure students (13.7%) and higher among not sure students (13.7%) than heterosexual students (6.4%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among lesbian and bisexual students (32.8%) than heterosexual students (8.4%) and not sure students (11.7%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among gay and bisexual students (19.4%) and not sure students (16.0%) than heterosexual students (4.5%). The prevalence also was higher among heterosexual female students (8.4%) than heterosexual male students (4.5%) and higher among lesbian and bisexual female students (32.8%) than gay and bisexual male students (19.4%).

Across 23 states, the prevalence of having attempted suicide ranged from 3.8% to 9.5% (median: 6.8%) among heterosexual students; from 19.7% to 37.4% (median: 26.5%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 9.4% to 27.8% (median: 18.0%) among not sure students. Across 19 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 4.3% to 15.9% (median: 7.1%) among heterosexual students; from 20.7% to 37.8% (median: 26.1%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 11.8% to 40.8% (median: 19.3%) among not sure students.

Nationwide, 9.7% of students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, 27.6% of students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and 4.2% of students who had no sexual contact had attempted suicide. The prevalence of having attempted suicide was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes (27.6%) than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (9.7%) and students who had no sexual contact (4.2%) and higher among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (9.7%) than students who had no sexual contact (4.2%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only females or with both sexes (31.0%) than those who had sexual contact with only males (13.1%) and those who had no sexual contact (6.1%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only males (13.1%) than those who had no sexual contact (6.1%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only males or with both sexes (17.0%) than those who had sexual contact with only females (6.9%) and those who had no sexual contact (2.3%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only females (6.9%) than those who had no sexual contact (2.3%). The prevalence also was higher among female students who had sexual contact with only males (13.1%) than male students who had sexual contact with only females (6.9%), higher among female students who had sexual contact with only females or with both sexes (31.0%) than male students who had sexual contact with only males or with both sexes (17.0%), and higher among female students who had no sexual contact (6.1%) than male students who had no sexual contact (2.3%).

Across 21 states, the prevalence of having attempted suicide ranged from 6.2% to 13.5% (median: 9.7%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 18.9% to 40.3% (median: 28.7%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 2.3% to 6.2% (median: 4.2%) among students who had no sexual contact. Across 19 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 7.4% to 18.9% (median: 9.7%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 19.8% to 42.6% (median: 28.6%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 1.9% to 12.5% (median: 5.6%) among students who had no sexual contact.

Suicide Attempt Treated by a Doctor or Nurse

Nationwide, 2.8% of all students; 2.0% of heterosexual students; 9.4% of gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and 4.7% of not sure students nationwide had made a suicide attempt during the 12 months before the survey that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse (Table 28). The prevalence of having made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse was higher among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students (9.4%) than heterosexual students (2.0%) and not sure students (4.7%) and higher among not sure students (4.7%) than heterosexual students (2.0%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among lesbian and bisexual students (10.3%) than heterosexual students (2.6%) and not sure students (3.8%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among gay and bisexual students (7.0%) than heterosexual students (1.5%). The prevalence also was higher among heterosexual female students (2.6%) than heterosexual male students (1.5%).

Across 21 states, the prevalence of having made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse ranged from 1.1% to 9.0% (median: 2.3%) among heterosexual students; from 5.8% to 15.5% (median: 9.3%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 1.6% to 12.3% (median: 7.5%) among not sure students. Across 17 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 1.3% to 6.1% (median: 2.5%) among heterosexual students; from 4.1% to 15.9% (median: 11.2%) among gay, lesbian, and bisexual students; and from 0.0% to 19.5% (median: 8.7%) among not sure students.

Nationwide, 3.4% of students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, 11.0% of students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and 0.9% of students who had no sexual contact nationwide had made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse. The prevalence of having made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or over dose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse was higher among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes (11.0%) than students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (3.4%) and students who had no sexual contact (0.9%) and higher among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex (3.4%) than students who had no sexual contact (0.9%). Among female students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only females or with both sexes (12.4%) than those who had sexual contact with only males (4.2%) and those who had no sexual contact (1.3%) and higher among those who had sexual contact with only males (4.2%) than those who had no sexual contact (1.3%). Among male students, the prevalence was higher among those who had sexual contact with only females (2.8%) and those who had sexual contact with only males or with both sexes (6.5%) than those who had no sexual contact (0.4%). The prevalence also was higher among female students who had sexual contact with only females or with both sexes (12.4%) than male students who had sexual contact with only males or with both sexes (6.5%) and higher among female students who had no sexual contact (1.3%) than male students who had no sexual contact (0.4%).

Across 20 states, the prevalence of having made a suicide attempt that resulted in an injury, poisoning, or overdose that had to be treated by a doctor or nurse ranged from 2.1% to 10.3% (median: 3.3%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 6.1% to 19.6% (median: 12.7%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 0.4% to 6.2% (median: 1.1%) among students who had no sexual contact. Across 17 large urban school districts, the prevalence ranged from 2.2% to 6.4% (median: 3.4%) among students who had sexual contact with only the opposite sex, from 3.8% to 17.4% (median: 11.2%) among students who had sexual contact with only the same sex or with both sexes, and from 0.2% to 3.4% (median: 1.5%) among students who had no sexual contact.