(PS9-79) A Comparison of Suicide-related Hospitalization History Between Deaf Transgender and Gender Diverse Adults and Their Hearing Gender Diverse Peers

Background: The term “transgender and gender diverse” (TGD) refers to people whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth. In this population, the experience of suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs), specifically suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, is more common in comparison to the general population. Data suggests that TGD experiences of hospitalization for STBs is seen as predominantly unhelpful, potentially due to correlates such as distrust in providers and a need to educate providers about gender-related concerns. However, rates of hospitalization amongst deaf, TGD adults is unknown. “deaf communities” refers to individuals who may have difficulty understanding spoken language through hearing alone and may or may not use sign language and share in the cultural beliefs and values of the Deaf community (e.g., Deaf, deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing, etc.). deaf, TGD adults may experience more frequent voluntary and/or involuntary hospitalizations for STBs due to audism or difficulties accessing appropriate interpreting services.

Methods: This project used data collected as part of the 2017 TransLifeline Mental Health Survey. Snowball sampling with online advertisements was used to recruit adults who were 18 years or older, self-identified as TGD, and lived in the US. Chi-square analyses compared endorsement of hospitalization between deaf TGD adults and their hearing TGD adult peers.

Results: Participants were adults who self-identified as TGD who were deaf (n = 257) or hearing (n = 4093). Compared to hearing participants, self-identified deaf participants were more likely to have experienced hospitalization for suicidal ideation (37% v. 26%, χ2 (1) = 13.169, p < .001) and suicide attempts (27% v. 16%, χ2 (1) = 18.943, p < .001). History of involuntary compared to voluntary hospitalization did not differ between groups (39% v. 37%, χ2 (1) = .139, p = .709). Similarly, compared to nonbinary hearing participants (n = 2431), deaf non-binary participants (n = 161) were more likely to have experienced hospitalization for suicidal ideation (37% v. 26%, χ2 (1) = 8.728, p = .003) and suicide attempts (27% v. 16%, χ2 (1) = 12.437, p = < .001). History of involuntary compared to voluntary hospitalization did not differ between groups (46% v. 36%; χ2 (1) = 2.615, p = .106). Compared to hearing participants of color (n = 3215), deaf participants of color (n = 68) were more likely to have experienced hospitalization for suicidal ideation (42% v. 25%, χ2 (1) = 9.487, p = .002) and suicide attempts (38% v. 16%, χ2 (1) = 25.344, p = < .001). History of involuntary compared to voluntary hospitalization did not differ between groups (44% v. 37%, χ2 (1) = .698, p = .404).

Conclusions: deaf, TGD adults experience higher rates of hospitalization for STBs compared to their hearing peers, highlighting a population with unique care needs that providers should be trained in to provide. deaf, nonbinary TGD adults and deaf, TGD adults of color also experience higher rates of hospitalization compared to their binary and racial majority TGD peers respectively. These intersections are worth further study in subsequent deaf TGD research. History of involuntary hospitalization did not differ as a function of hearing, gender binary, or racial status.