New Study Shows Upward Trend in Suicide Risk for LGBTQ+ Youth
the Trevor Project earlier this week, the LGBTQ+ youth suicide prevention and mental health organization found that there has been an upward trend in suicidal thoughts among queer youth, many of whom are trans youth and queer youth of color.“The Trevor Project’s research demonstrates that suicidal thoughts have trended upward among LGBTQ young people over the last three years, making our life-saving work all the more important.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and relentless political attacks during this time period cannot be understated,” said Amit Paley, CEO and executive director of The Trevor Project, in a press release.The findings are part of the group’s 2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health, which included responses from almost 34,000 LGBTQ+ youth across the country between the ages of 13 and 24.
The group said 45 percent of respondents were youth of color while 48 percent identified as trans or nonbinary, making it “one of the most diverse surveys of LGBTQ youth ever conducted.”The new data show that 45 percent of respondents have considered attempting suicide in the last year.
Over half of transgender and nonbinary youth have done so (53 percent), while 33 percent of cisgender queer youth have. The Trevor Project also found that many young people are reporting high levels of anxiety (73 percent) and depression (58 percent).However, it found that 60 percent of those who wanted mental health care couldn’t secure it.
