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ViewAttendees 4

Individual Oral Paper

LGBTQ+

LGBT: Intersectionality, Syndemics, and Health Behaviors

4 - (IOP 27) Gender Euphoria Is My Reason for Living: Findings from a Pilot Feasibility and Acceptability Trial of BCBT for SGM Folks

Sunday, November 23, 2025
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM CST
Location: Imperial 9, Level 4
Keywords: LGBTQ+, Suicide, CBT
Recommended Readings: Baker, J. C., Starkey, A., Ammendola, E., Bauder, C. R., Daruwala, S. E., Hiser, J., Khazem, L. R., Rademacher, K., Hay, J., Bryan, A. O., & Bryan, C. J. (2024). Telehealth brief cognitive behavioral therapy for suicide prevention: A randomized clinical trial. JAMA Network Open. 7(11), 1-12. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.45913,   Hope, D. A., Holt, N. R., Woodruff, N., Mocarski, R., Meyer, H. M., Puckett, J. A., ... & Butler, S. (2022). Bridging the gap between practice guidelines and the therapy room: Community-derived practice adaptations for psychological services with transgender and gender diverse adults in the central United States. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 53(4), 351.,   Rogers ML, Hom MA, Janakiraman R, Joiner TE. Examination of minority stress pathways to suicidal ideation among sexual minority adults: The moderating role of LGBT community connectedness. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity. 2021;8(1):38.,   ,  
Suicidal thoughts and behaviors disproportionately affect individuals with sexual and gender minority (SGM) identities across the lifespan. Lesbian, gay, and bisexual adults are more likely to experience suicidal ideation and behaviors compared to their heterosexual counterparts, and up to 86% of transgender individuals report such experiences. Despite these alarming statistics, current suicide prevention treatments have not been explicitly tailored to address the unique lived experiences and minority stressors of SGM individuals. These stressors—such as societal prejudice, rejection expectations, concealment of identity, and internalized homophobia or transphobia—are key contributors to heightened suicide risk but remain largely unaddressed in mainstream therapeutic approaches. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT), including Brief-CBT for Suicide Prevention (BCBT), has demonstrated efficacy in reducing suicide attempts, yet has not been evaluated in the context of SGM-specific stressors or healthcare disparities.

This study represents the first attempt to test the feasibility and acceptability of BCBT for individuals with SGM identities, with an emphasis on adapting the intervention to address minority stress. Given that SGM individuals continue to face barriers to effective, evidence-based suicide prevention interventions, this research seeks to determine whether BCBT, when adapted to incorporate the unique challenges faced by SGM people, can offer greater benefits in reducing suicide risk. We will present our preliminary quantitative and qualitative findings to address our primary aim: the acceptability and credibility of BCBT among SGM folks. The findings will provide critical insights into the acceptability, feasibility, and potential for improved outcomes of BCBT for SGM individuals. This research is crucial in addressing the inequities in mental healthcare access and outcomes for SGM adults, whose intersectional experiences of oppression in a hetero- and cisnormative society continue to exacerbate their suicide risk.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
  1. Understand the symptom improvement and credibility experiences of SGM folks receiving Brief-Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention.