Sexual Minority Youth Perspectives on the School Environment and Suicide Risk Interventions: A Qualitative Study

Abstract

ABSTRACT This qualitative study explored the experiences of five gay, lesbian, and bisexual adolescents' perspectives on their schools' acceptance of their sexual orientation, and perceptions of these schools' approach to suicide risk intervention. Focus groups were tape recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through constant comparative analysis. Themes that emerged from the data included participants feeling judged by school counselors and teachers, feeling unsafe at school, and concerned about school staff's response to suicide risk and interventions. Implications for school counselors, teachers and administrators are discussed.