Studies show that the transgender community faces a staggering percentage of suicide attempts, with nearly half of the community at risk for self harm.
An incredible 41 percent among respondents to the National Transgender Discrimination Survey said that they attempted suicide, according to the Williams Institute.
This number is well above the 4.6 percent of the general population who report a suicide attempt during their lifetime and also surpasses the 10-20 percent of lesbian, gay and bisexual adults who report ever attempting suicide.
Caitlyn Jenner coming out as transgender and her speech on the ESPYS has made more people aware of the serious plight facing the trans community, but the fact remains that more than a dozen other surveys of transgender people worldwide since 2001 have found similarly high rates, USA Today reported.
Breaking the numbers down even further by race, the most susceptible are members of the American Indian, Alaska Natives and mixed-race/ethnicity, with rates of over 50 percent, according to Vocativ.
Blacks and Latinos follow next, coming in just under 47 percent, with whites and Asian or Pacific Islanders having the lowest percentage at under 40 percent. However, even the lowest group is still nearly nine times higher than the national average.
Parents of transgender teens and those who teach are in a position to be very impactful, according to Vincent Paolo Villano, director of communications at the National Center of Transgender Equality.
"Parents of transgender youth have to take the time to listen to their kids when they're trying to assert their gender identity," said Vilano. "At the school level, teachers and administrators have to understand what policies need to be in place to make sure that transgender students are learning and thriving in school, and give them the space to be who they are."
