Jun 17
New Studies Highlight Ongoing Mental Health Disparities Among LGBTQ+ and Transgender Youth
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
A series of recent studies and surveys underscore the persistent and deeply concerning mental health challenges facing LGBTQ+ youth in the United States, with transgender youth and those of color experiencing the most acute disparities. According to The Trevor Project’s 2023 National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health, more than 41% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered attempting suicide in the past year. Alarmingly, these numbers are even higher for transgender, nonbinary, and Black or Latinx LGBTQ+ youth, who report even greater mental health struggles and barriers to care.
The root causes of these disparities are well-documented and widely recognized in the latest research. Minority stress theory, examined in a June 2024 publication by the American Public Health Association, articulates that the mental health of LGBTQIA+ youth is shaped by intersecting forms of stigma and discrimination at every level of society, from families and schools to broader political environments.
Ongoing legislative efforts in many states to restrict discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in schools, or to ban gender-affirming care for minors, have had a pronounced psychological impact. The Trevor Project’s survey found that nearly one in three LGBTQ+ youth reported their mental health as “poor” most of the time or always due to anti-LGBTQ+ policies and legislation, and nearly two in three said that hearing about potential state or local laws banning discussion of LGBTQ+ people at school made their mental health a lot worse.
Access to mental health care remains a major challenge: 56% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year were unable to get it. Transgender and nonbinary youth, in particular, are more likely to face barriers due to lack of provider knowledge, fear of discrimination, or parental rejection.
Furthermore, fewer than 40% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that their home was an LGBTQ-affirming environment, and only about half of transgender and nonbinary youth described their schools as gender-affirming Youth who have affirming family and school environments report lower rates of suicide attempts and negative mental health outcomes, highlighting the life-saving importance of support and acceptance.
The intersection of racial and LGBTQ+ identities compounds these mental health challenges. Recent reports highlight that Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ youth face disproportionately high rates of poor mental health outcomes. For instance, nearly 54% of Black LGBTQ+ youth and 49% of Latinx LGBTQ+ youth reported seriously considering suicide in the past year, compared to lower rates among their white peers. Factors such as homelessness, economic insecurity, and exposure to racism, in addition to anti-LGBTQ+ stigma, create even greater mental health risks in these groups.
Experts and advocates agree that trusted adults—including parents, teachers, and healthcare providers—play a critical role in supporting LGBTQ+ youth mental health. Access to gender-affirming care and environments that respect pronouns and identities are consistently linked to reduced suicide risk and improved well-being. Evidence-based interventions emphasize inclusive policies, anti-bullying initiatives, and training for adults who work with youth as effective strategies for closing the mental health gap.
The latest data and headlines reinforce a grim reality: LGBTQ+ youth, and especially those who are transgender or from communities of color, continue to face marked mental health disparities due to societal stigma, discriminatory policies, and insufficient access to affirming care. As Pride Month brings renewed attention to these issues, researchers, advocates, and youth themselves are calling for urgent action at all levels to create supportive, inclusive environments and to ensure that every LGBTQ+ young person has access to the mental health resources they need.
