"I Never Saw a Future": Childhood Trauma and Suicidality Among Sexual Minority Women. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Creighton, Genevieve M.; Oliffe, John L.; Broom, Alex; Rossnagel, Emma; Ferlatte, Olivier; Darroch, Francine
• Is Part Of: Qualitative health research. Volume 29:Number 14(2019)
• Page Start: 2035
• Page End: 2047
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: Canada -- women's health -- suicide -- trauma -- mental health and illness -- gays and lesbians -- bisexuals -- qualitative methods -- photography -- photovoice -- qualitative; Health -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Periodicals; Health -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; Health behavior -- Research -- Methodology -- Periodicals; 610.7205
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732319843502
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1049-7323

Abstract

While a significant health concern for sexual minority women, there is little qualitative research investigating their experiences of childhood trauma and suicidality. In this study, we used photovoice methods and an intersectionality framework. Drawing on qualitative interviews, we inductively derived three themes (a) Traumatized and discredited, (b) Cascading marginality, estrangement, and suicidality, (c) Reconstruction and reclaiming resilience . In Traumatized and discredited, we describe the sense of abandonment flowing from childhood trauma heightened by a lack of protection and neglect on the part of parents/guardians. The lack of support to deal with childhood trauma and the layering effects of marginality characterizes the theme Cascading marginality, estrangement, and suicidality . In the third theme, we discuss strategies for reconstruction and reclaiming resilience as participants worked to overcome these challenging experiences. Our study findings offer guidance to suicide prevention counseling programs for sexual minority women and affirm actions to address health inequities.