757 - Community through Theater: Building Belonging Amongst LGBTQ+ Young Adults As a Protective Factor Against Suicide Risk

Publication Number: 757.4438

Michael S. Taglienti, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States; Christine C. Cheston, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States

Background: LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual peers, and intersectionality compounds risk (Trevor Project, 2024). Exposure to live theater increases Sense of Community Belonging (SoCB), a protective factor against suicide risk (Wille et al, 2008). Theater events may offer a unique adjunct to traditional mental health care interventions (McNamee, 2019) for certain populations.

Objective: We aimed to increase SoCB among LGBTQ+ young adults through exposure to curated Free Theater Night events.

Design/Methods: We partnered with professional theaters to host five Free Theater Nights in 2023-2024. We collaborated with universities and public schools in majority minority neighborhoods to invite students aged 14-24. Events were free, and materials especially welcomed LGBTQ+ youth. Chosen shows highlighted relevant themes and characters with shared identities and lived experiences of our target audiences. Three shows were preceded by a resource fair with mission-aligned organizations.

Attendees completed optional anonymous, linked pre-/post-surveys with demographic questions, a validated questionnaire measuring SoCB, and one open-ended question asking generally about their experience. Changes in SoCB were assessed with paired T-tests. Responses to open-ended questions were reviewed to inform iterative improvement.

Results: Over 200 young adults attended a Free Theater Night. Sixty-four percent of attendees (n=128) completed a pre-/post-survey. Sixty percent of respondents identified as LGBQ+, 26% as gender nonconforming, and 70% as non-white. Attendees reported increased SoCB after attendance (mean difference: +0.13; 95% CI: 0.04-0.23). LGBTQ+ attendees had a greater mean increase in SoCB than heterosexual peers (+0.21 vs +0.02, p=0.04), and non-white attendees had a greater positive increase than white peers (+0.18 vs 0.01, p=0.03). Open-ended responses were overwhelmingly positive with one representative quote reading: “The combination of emotions were so truly represented in this play to the point I feel like I can also show my true self and find love where I belong.”

Conclusion(s): Combatting disproportionate suicide risk amongst LGBTQ+ youth demands creative, targeted intervention. Free Theater Nights increase young adults' SoCB, a protective factor against suicide risk, especially amongst highly vulnerable LGBTQ+- and BIPOC-identifying young adults. Accessible, curated theater experiences offer potential as a novel community-driven, strength-focused model of support of youth mental health.

Demographics of Free Theater Night Attendees and Baseline Difference in Pre-Show Belonging Scores by Group


Pre/Post- Change in Belonging Scores by Demographic Group