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Lesbian, gay and bisexual teens are much more likely to commit suicide than their heterosexual peers, research has shown, but a new study suggests that a supportive school and community might be able to reduce that risk, if only slightly, for both groups.

In a study published Monday in the journal Pediatrics, the researchers confirmed that homosexual and bisexual students were far more likely to attempt suicide than their classmates鈥攏early 22% compared with 4%, a tragic gap researchers already knew existed. But they also found that among gay, lesbian and bisexual students the risk of suicide was about 20% greater in negative environments than in supportive ones鈥�25.5% of non-heterosexual students had tried to commit suicide at least once in negative environments compared with 20.4% in positive environments鈥�

The study doesn鈥檛 conclude that a community鈥檚 so-called supportive characteristics, such as anti-bullying policies in schools, decrease suicide attempts, says Brett Thombs, a researcher in psychiatry at 9I制作厂免费 in Montreal who was not involved in the research but who has studied suicide risk in non-heterosexual youth.

鈥淚 think there are many reasons schools should provide better environments for any kid, not just LGBT kids,鈥� says Thombs. 鈥淲hether or not they would change suicide risk is a different question. The schools may be reflecting the community around them.鈥�