Understanding LGBT+ people’s vulnerability to suicide in Czechia

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For me, as the first author, contributing to this publication was both professionally and personally significant. In 2014, while I was in my third year of doctoral studies examining the geographies of sexualities and the impact of stigma on well-being, the widely publicized suicide of a 14-year-old deeply affected me. The boy had left a letter explaining how unbearable it was to live in a society that did not accept people like him. This heartbreaking event drove me to bring societal perspectives closer to psychological ones in my research. Over the past decade, I have witnessed firsthand how stigma and discrimination take a serious toll on LGBT+ individuals in Czechia and beyond. As a young researcher, I devoted my first nationwide project to pioneering work in LGBT+ mental health. By building international networks, adapting validated measures, and continuously learning from diverse collaborators, I have aimed to lay a foundation for evidence-based support. This publication reflects years of shared commitment with colleagues to understand and improve the mental health of sexual and gender minorities. Alongside other research findings in Czechia, I hope our study underscores the urgent need to foster inclusive environments and prompts stakeholders to implement strategies to reduce LGBT+ suicidality. Ultimately, I view this work as part of a broader global endeavor to ensure that every individual—regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity—receives the acceptance and resources they need to thrive. In the face of criticisms about so-called “woke culture” or “excessive correctness,” I believe this paper makes clear that discrimination has no rightful place in society, and that every person deserves the right to be accepted.

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