Survey of LGBTQ+ youth shows higher risk of suicide, need for support

Sheri Walsh
·2 min read
10
UPI
The 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People was released Wednesday by The Trevor Project, revealing a strong link between suicide risk and bullying or stigmatization as 90% of LGBTQ+ youth reported their well-being had been negatively impacted by politics in the past year. File photo by Terry Schmitt

May 1 (UPI) -- A new report shows LGBTQ+ young people continue to report high rates of mental health challenges, bullying, discrimination and increased suicide risk, while the data also shows supportive environments can make a difference.

The 2024 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People was released Wednesday by The Trevor Project. While it reveals continued risks for LGBTQ+ youth, it also highlights a link between lower suicide rates and access to safe spaces such as LGBTQ+-affirming homes and schools, as well as gender-neutral bathrooms and clothing.

"Once again, this year's survey shows that considering or attempting suicide is not uncommon among LGBTQ+ young people," said Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at the Trevor Project.

"However, many of the contributing risk factors for suicide are preventable, and often rooted in victimizing behaviors of others. The results of this survey clearly identify a need for adults and allies to create more affirming environments for LGBTQ+ young people, and better support them in being their true selves."

According to the survey of 18,000 respondents, "39% of LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 across the United States seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year." That includes 46% of transgender and nonbinary young people, with 12% of all LGBTQ+ youth actually attempting suicide.

The sixth annual survey associated suicide risk with bullying, mistreatment and being stigmatized, as 90% of the LGBTQ+ respondents reported their well-being was negatively impacted by politics. Nearly half of transgender and nonbinary young people said they had considered moving to a different state because of LGBTQ+ laws.

"Much of our efforts to address the public health crisis of suicide among LGBTQ+ young people are made that much harder by the ongoing wave of anti-LGBTQ+ policies pushed by extremist lawmakers across the country," said Janson Wu, senior director of state advocacy and government affairs at The Trevor Project.

"With such striking numbers and families literally wanting to uproot their homes to seek safety, lawmakers must seriously reconsider the real and damaging impact that their anti-LGBTQ+ policies and rhetoric create," Wu said.

"No 'political victory' should be worth risking the lives of young people."