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Intersex Suicide – Causal Factors and Remedies

Activity: Talk or presentation types › Oral presentation

Description

This talk explores causal factors contributing to intersex self-harming and suicidal behaviour. Intersex is an umbrella term used to describe a wide variety of naturally occurring bodily variations that do not fit neatly into strict medical binary definitions of what might be considered male or female.

Since at least the 1960s it has been common medical practice in many countries including the United Kingdom to surgically alter intersex children born with ambiguous genitalia to conform their bodies to expectations typically associated with the sex the child was assigned at birth. These and other medical practices are associated with sexual, reproductive and psychological difficulties for the intersex person and have been condemned and labelled torture by the United Nations and other human rights organisations.

Many intersex adults report family rejection and experiences of bullying and discrimination throughout their lives. Indeed, recent research from the European Union shows intersex people suffer increasingly high rates of discrimination and violence. Studies show intersex adults report much higher than average rates of attempted suicide. This talk concludes with an exploration of remedies to self-harming and suicidal behaviour as well as systemic barriers to these remedies.
Period17 Apr 2025
Held atWest Yorkshire Suicide Prevention Advisory Network, United Kingdom
Degree of RecognitionRegional

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  • MESSAGE (Medical Science Sex and Gender Equity)

    Impact: Health and well-being impacts, Cultural and social impacts, Education and professional practice impacts, Understanding and awareness impacts, Policy, legislation, and public services impacts, Other forms of decision-making and behaviour change impacts