Israel’s gay teens are attempting suicide at an alarming rate, but a group says they are being ignored.

The group Israel Gay Youth has submitted a paper to the government calling them to do more to help prevent teens attempting to kill themselves.

They say LGBTI teens attempt suicide at a rate of 20%, compared with 2.5% for teens overall.

‘Despite the government’s decision and despite the clear figures we have cited, gay young people are not recognized as a risk group and are not specifically addressed in the national program and the activities of the council to prevent suicide,’ the paper says.

Ran Leabel of Israel Gay Youth has said the Health Minister Yael German has told him that even though the government ‘recognized’ gay youth has a suicide rate, it will not due to budgetry difficulties care specifically for the community.

In a statement from the Health Ministry, it states: ‘The gay community is seen as a high-risk group like youth, the elderly, immigrants from Ethiopia, immigrants from the former Soviet Union, divorced fathers and others, which the local authorities take care of.

‘[Israel Gay Youth should] present their troubles to the council and receive an explanation about the program, as representatives of other groups have done.

‘Specific training is being planned as part of the national program to prevent suicide.’