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A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide.

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A systematic review and meta-analysis of victimisation and mental health prevalence among LGBTQ+ young people with experiences of self-harm and suicide.

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January 2021

A peer-reviewed academic journal article

Published: PLoS ONE

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2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health

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2022 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health

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2022

A Survey

Published: The Trevor Project

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Suicidality Among Youth Who are Questioning, Unsure of, or Exploring Their Sexual Identity.

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Suicidality Among Youth Who are Questioning, Unsure of, or Exploring Their Sexual Identity.

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June 2021

A peer-reviewed academic journal article

Published: Journal of Sex Research

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Sexual Minority Stress, Mental Health Symptoms, and Suicidality among LGBTQ Youth Accessing Crisis Services.

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Sexual Minority Stress, Mental Health Symptoms, and Suicidality among LGBTQ Youth Accessing Crisis Services.

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May 2021

A peer-reviewed academic journal article

Published: Journal of Youth & Adolescence

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Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People

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Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People

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December 2021

A website article

Published: The Trevor Project

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Facts About Suicide Among LGBTQ+ Young People

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Stay informed and learn how to support vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth through mental health facts and suicide risk factors from The Trevor Project.

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LGBTQ Suicide Rates: Understanding Risks and Prevention

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LGBTQ Suicide Rates: Understanding Risks and Prevention

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June 5, 2025

A website article

Published: Psycle Health

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Psycle Health | Your resource for alternative & psychedelic mental health treatments

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LGBTQ Suicide Rates: Understanding Risks and Prevention | Psycle Health

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LGBTQ suicide rates are higher due to discrimination and isolation. Learn the causes—and how to support prevention efforts.

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New Research on LGBTQ+ Teen Suicide Rates

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New Research on LGBTQ+ Teen Suicide Rates

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March 16, 2024

A website article

Published: Newport Academy

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Research shows that lesbian, gay, bi, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) teens are at increased risk of suicide and mental health issues like depression and anxiety. One of the most startling statistics: LGBTQ teens consider suicide and make suicide attempts at about four times the national rate for all adolescents.

These numbers shed light on the critical importance of suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month and all year round, parents, teachers, mentors, and policymakers must help ensure that LGBTQ teens receive ongoing support and access to mental healthcare resources.

Key Takeaways

The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 million LGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the United States, and at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

These challenges include stigma, family rejection, bullying, threats of injury, violence, and increasingly limited access to gender-affirming healthcare.

Higher rates of depression among the LGBTQ population also lead to higher rates of substance abuse, as a form of self-medication for mental health issues.

Research has consistently shown thatsupport and acceptance from parents leads to better mental health, greater self-acceptance, and enhanced well-being among LGBTQ youth.

Statistics on Mental Health and Suicide Among LBGTQ Youth

LGBTQ teen suicide rates and LGBTQ mental health statistics reflect the societal and relationship challenges that these young people face. According to research from the Trevor Project, LGBTQ teens are four times more likely to make a suicide attempt. In addition, The Trevor Project estimates that more than 1.8 millionLGBTQ youth (13-24) seriously consider suicide each year in the United States. That's at least one attempts suicide every 45 seconds.

The Trevor Project's 2023 survey also asked questions about the mental health of LGBTQ youth and their ability to access care. Here are some of the key findings:

70 percent of LGBTQ teens experienced symptoms of anxiety in the past year.

57 percent of LGBTQ teens experienced symptoms of depression.

Among all LGBTQ youth surveyed (ages 13-24), 81 percent wanted mental healthcare in the past year.

However, 56 percent of those youth were unable to access care.

According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), LGBTQ teens are six times more likely to experience symptoms of depression than the general population. Research shows that low family satisfaction, cyberbullying victimization, and unmet medical needs contributed to their higher rates of depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behavior. The Trevor Project found that the pandemic also contributed to mental health challenges: 60 percent of teens reported experiencing poor mental health sometimes or all the time since the pandemic began.

"We hope these data and trends will be used by fellow researchers, policymakers, and youth-serving organizations to advance policies and practices that better support LGBTQ youth around the globe and work to end the public health crisis of suicide."-Amit Paley, CEO and Executive Director, The Trevor Project

LGBTQ International Suicide Rates

A review study published in JAMA Pediatrics looked at how many LGBTQ people die by suicide each year and what percentage of transgender people die by suicide. Compiling data from 35 previous studies, the analysis involved close to 2.4 million heterosexual youth and 113,468 LGBTQ youth, ages 12 to 20, from 10 countries. The results included the following LGBTQ teen suicide rates:

Globally. LGBTQ youth are 3.5 times as likely to attempt suicide as their heterosexual peers.

Rates of attempting suicide among trans teens are 5.87 times higher than the average among all teens.

Gay and lesbian youth are 3.71 times more likely to attempt suicide.

Bisexual youth are 3.69 times more likely to attempt suicide than teens who identified as heterosexual.

Why Are LGBTQ Teens Vulnerable to Suicide?

All teenagers are at risk for suicide. But LBGTQ youth suicide rates are higher because their risks are compounded. As The Trevor Project states, "LGBTQ youth are not inherently prone to suicide risk because of their sexual orientation or gender identity but rather placed at higher risk because of how they are mistreated and stigmatized in society." Most profoundly, they experience rejection or lack of support from their family members much more often than their heterosexual peers. Nonbinary and transgender family rejection statistics are particularly striking: The 2023 survey found that less than 40 percent of transgender and nonbinary youth say they live in a gender-affirming home.

Moreover, stigma and threats of violence from peers and society at large further impact their mental health and well-being. The Trevor Project survey found that LGBTQ youth who experienced anti-LGBTQ victimization, including being physically threats or harm, discrimination, or conversion therapy, reported more than twice the rate of attempting suicide in the past year.

Hence, the feelings of isolation or "otherness" that often accompany adolescence are magnified for LGBTQ teens. These challenges can be particularly overwhelming for younger adolescents. One study of LGBTQ teen suicide rates found that one out of four suicides ( 24 percent) in adolescents age 12 to 14 were among LGBTQ youth. Researchers found that family problems most often contributed to suicides among younger teens.

"We already knew, or at least suspected, that younger people are especially vulnerable to the stress of coming out. This is because they don't have the psychological resources or personal independence to handle things themselves that they will have when they are older."
-2019 study author Geoffrey Ream of Adelphi University

What LGBTQ Youth Face in Schools and Society

In addition to difficulty at home, LGBTQ youth often face bullying, threats of injury, and sexual violence. The following data on LGBTQ teenagers comes from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey:

10 percent were threatened or injured with a weapon on school property

34 percent were bullied on school property

28 percent experienced cyberbullying

23 percent who had dated someone during the 12 months before the survey had experienced sexual dating violence

18 percent students had experienced physical dating violence

Another 18 percent had been forced to have sexual intercourse at some point in their lives.

As a result, LGBTQ students were 140 percent more likely than their heterosexual peers to skip school at least one day during the 30 days prior to the surveys.

Moreover, over the past year, anti-LGBTQ groups have been attacking the rights of trans youth to receive age-appropriate and medically necessary gender-affirming care, which has a significant negative impact on their mental health. And in a new poll, 3 out of 4 LGBTQ youth say that threats of violence against LGBTQ spaces, like community centers, pride events, drag shows, or hospitals/clinics that serve trans people, often give them stress or anxiety.

Schools and government policies can make a difference for LGBTQ youth. Youth living in states with anti-bullying laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity report less homophobic victimization and harassment. In addition, schools with Gay-Straight Alliance (GSA) clubs provide a more supportive environment for LGBTQ youth.

LGBTQ Youth and Substance Abuse

Statistics on substance abuse in LGBTQ youth show that they use alcohol and drugs at higher rates than their straight, cisgender peers. This is not surprising, given that substance abuse is typically a behavioral symptom of underlying depression, trauma, and anxiety. A Trevor Project research brief found that 47 percent of LGBTQ youth under age 21 use alcohol. Moreover, 29 percent of LGBTQ youth use marijuana. And 11 percent report using a prescription drug that was not prescribed to them.

Most significant, higher rates of substance abuse in this population were directly associated with LGBTQ teen suicide rates. Regular prescription drug misuse was associated with nearly three times greater odds of attempting suicide. Regular alcohol use was associated with nearly 50 percent higher likelihood of attempting suicide. And LGBTQ youth under age 21 who regularly used marijuana were nearly twice as likely (1.67 times) to attempt suicide.

What Parents Can Do to Counteract LGBTQ Youth Suicide Rates

Research has consistently shown that support from parents and peers leads to better mental health, greater self-acceptance, and enhanced well-being among LGBTQ youth. According to The Trevor Project, LGBTQ youth who feel high social support from their family attempt suicide at less than half the rate of those who feel low or moderate social support. Here's how to offer that all-important support.

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Stay tuned to what's going on in their life.

Parents of LGBTQ-IA teens need to stay involved, so they learn what their child's experience at school is like. Moreover, they need to watch for signs of bullying (including cyberbullying) or other discrimination at school. In addition, parents can get to know their teen's friends and romantic partners. This will help them offer guidance as their adolescent learns to build strong relationships outside the family.

Find resources to support suicide prevention in LGBTQ youth.

Organizations like the The Trevor Project offer resources and support, in person and online, for LGBTQ teenagers and their families. In addition, families can reach out to their doctor, a mental health professional, or a teen treatment center for advice and referrals. Parents need to be on the lookout for any signs of depression, suicidal thoughts, or other mental health concerns. With early assessment and treatment, successful outcomes are likely. Therefore, LGBTQ teen suicide rates will hopefully start to trend downward.

Finally, parents of LGBTQ teens need to remind their children often that they are unconditionally loved, and they will always be there to support them. As with all teenagers, feeling accepted and loved will make a positive impact on their lives, now and into the future.

Culturally Competent and Gender-Responsive Treatment at Newport Academy

We understand the specific challenges that LGBTQ youth navigate as they come of age. Our treatment takes into account the unique needs of LGBTQ+ adolescents and provides them with tools for navigating the world, building self-worth, and forming strong relationships with peers, mentors, and their larger community.

Our clinical experts and care staff have expertise and experience in addressing the mental health challenges that LGBTQ+ youth face. Newport has partnered with the Trevor Project, the nation's foremost LGBTQ+ advocacy and research organization, to provide specialized training for our staff.

Newport Academy's Admissions experts and Clinical Outreach Specialists can help parents of LGBTQ teens get the support they need. Contact us today.

Sources

The Trevor Project National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health 2022
CDC Supplements. 2020 Aug; 69(1): 47-55.
J Adolesc Health. 2019 Jan.
JAMA Pediatr. 2018;172(12):1145-1152.
Pediatrics. 2018 May;141(5).
Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health. 2018;12:8.
Annu Rev Clin Psychol. 2016 Mar 28; 12: 465-487.
Journal of GLBT Family Studies. 14(1-2):130-151.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
New Research on LGBTQ Teen Suicide Rates

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New research examines the high LGBTQ teen suicide ratess. Support from parents and peers can counteract these LGBTQ+ suicide statistics.

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Bullying in schools and LGBTQ+ youth mental health: Relations with voting for Trump

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Bullying in schools and LGBTQ+ youth mental health: Relations with voting for Trump

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December 2021

A peer reviewed academic journal article

Published: Analyses of Social Issues & Public policy

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GSA Advocacy Predicts Reduced Depression Disparities Between LGBQ+ and Heterosexual Youth in Schools.

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GSA Advocacy Predicts Reduced Depression Disparities Between LGBQ+ and Heterosexual Youth in Schools.

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Jul/Aug 2025

A peer reviewed academic journal article

Published: Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology

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Former students, parents speak on anti-LGBTQ bullying at Nex Benedict's school

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Former students, parents speak on anti-LGBTQ bullying at Nex Benedict's school

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March 16, 2024

A website article

Published: ABC News

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The death of LGBTQ teen Nex Benedict following a fight in a high school restroom has been ruled a suicide, shining a renewed spotlight on the intensifying environment in Oklahoma schools and anti-LGBTQ bullying.

ABC News spoke with former students and local parents, who say that the impact of anti-LGBTQ policy and rhetoric is a growing concern in Oklahoma schools like Owasso High School, where Benedict was a student.

"I was constantly fearing for my safety," said 2022 Owasso alum and trans student Riley, who requested to go by their first name for safety reasons. "Looking back, I think that if I were out [as trans] during high school, I probably wouldn't have survived."

Benedict, 16, died on Feb. 8, one day after a physical altercation between the student and others at Owasso High School. According to Benedict's family, Benedict was nonbinary and went by they/them pronouns.

Benedict's family claimed that the teen had experienced several months of bullying from other students, which began after Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill into law in May 2022 that barred transgender and gender expansive youth from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity, citing safety concerns.

Oklahoma alone has had 54 anti-LGBTQ bills pass through the legislature in the ongoing legislative session.

Research highlighted by the American Psychological Association shows that such policies and laws targeting access to health care, sports participation, and school policies have resulted in "heightened levels of anxiety, depression, and suicide risk among the transgender community."

​​LGBTQ youth are at greater risk for poor mental health, bullying and violence than their non-LGBTQ peers, and are also more at risk of seriously considering suicide or attempting it, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers say that supportive policies and practices in schools protecting LGBTQ students can ease this burden and promote better health outcomes.

Owasso alumni, parents share concerns

Riley told ABC News that she was a student at Owasso High School when the recent wave of anti-transgender bills began to move through the state legislature.

"It really reaffirmed the fact that I had to just keep my head down and make it through high school," said Riley. "Because even if teachers are supportive, then like they may not even have the ability legally to be supportive of it ... There's always the fear that even safe teachers would be forced to out me or put me in an unsafe position just because of the legal circumstances."

Benedict's death forced Riley to emotionally confront aspects of her high school experience as a trans person that she hadn't processed before.

"I wasn't out in high school. A couple of people knew that I was bi, but no one knew that I was trans," said Riley. "It almost kind of makes it worse, because people will say the most vile and ridiculous stuff around me. And sometimes they'd assume that I would agree with them. And sometimes they would just say [things] not realizing that it would be hard for me."

She said that despite repeatedly sending emails to administrators when witnessing or hearing offensive language, "they've never done anything about it," she said.

Marley Hutchins, another 2022 Owasso alum who goes by they/them pronouns, said they also experienced and witnessed anti-LGBTQ bullying in the halls of Owasso High.

"The administration doesn't follow through, they don't seem to care that much about it," said Hutchins. "Which I think is also why their response to this has been so disappointing. Because they just, they won't stop repeating the same talking points. They just keep saying that they take all reports of bullying very seriously. But we're telling them that that's not true."

Hutchins said they are happy they graduated when they did, because they believe recent anti-transgender policies and rhetoric from officials has worsened the experiences of LGBTQ youth.

"I think things have gotten a lot worse, as more elected officials have been a lot more vocal, as certain elected officials have come into power, like [Oklahoma State Superintendent] Ryan Walters," Hutchins said.

In an interview with ABC News, Walters stood firm on his support of current anti-transgender policies following Benedict's death: "To make sure that all individuals are safe in a school, we want every student to be protected, we want every student to be successful. That also means we're not going to lie to students. And we're not going to push a gender ideology."

Anna Richardson, a local parent whose 17-year-old son is a senior at Owasso, told ABC News that students have told her they have little faith in the school's safety policies.

"When I printed those out and showed them to a group of teenagers, they were laughed at -- the students laughed at them," Richardson said. "And they were like, 'none of that happens.' They're like, you know, 'it doesn't make any difference. If you go tell an adult or whatever, they're not listening to us. So why even, why even bother?'"

Richardson helped organize a vigil to honor Benedict's memory. Though she said she is still learning more each day about the LGBTQ community, she held the vigil to show students that there are people in the community standing up with them against hate.

"My biggest message has always been that the adults in the room need to step up as the adults in the room," said Richardson. "We need to start leading our conversations with love and kindness."

She continued, "This behavior and patterns of quote unquote, bullying, harassment, assault, hate speech, whatever you want to label out that as -- it starts at home, it starts in our homes."

Cassidy Brown, a member of the LGBTQ community and 2009 Owasso alum, is a parent to a 2-year-old and is worried about their future in Oklahoma with the current anti-LGBTQ sentiment.

"It's scary for me to think that I could send my son to a public school where he might even get ridiculed because he has two moms," Brown told ABC News in an interview.

How state and local officials have responded

Owasso Public Schools and Oklahoma state officials are at the center of the scrutiny surrounding Benedict's death by suicide.

Owasso told ABC News that the safety and security of students is their top priority, as well as "fostering a safe and inclusive environment for everyone," said a spokesperson for the district.

"Bullying in any form is unacceptable," the statement read. "We take reports of bullying very seriously and have policies and procedures in place to address such behavior."

The district spokesperson said administrators are in the midst of a detailed review of policies, curriculum, and programs "in collaboration with our students, families, staff, and community."

The statement continued, "The results of the pending investigations by the Owasso Police Department and the Office of Civil Rights will also help to inform this process."

Meanwhile, the Department of Education has opened an investigation into Owasso Public Schools following a complaint from the Human Rights Campaign related to concerns about bullying and discrimination.

The district responded to the investigation in a statement to ABC News, stating that "the district is committed to cooperating with federal officials and believes the complaint submitted by HRC is not supported by the facts and is without merit."

However, state officials have stood by anti-trans policies and rhetoric in light of the criticism, including Walters.

Walters has said that he wants the "focus to be on the basics and education."

When asked about concerns that some students can't focus on school because of rhetoric that invalidates their identity, Walters said that he wants students to be successful and protected, but that he would not "lie" to them.

"What we see here is an effort from the left to lie about the death of this child to push an agenda and to try to push us off of our positions and our stances," Walters told ABC News. "We're not going to back down to that. We're going to continue to move the state forward in education."
If you are struggling with thoughts of suicide or worried about a friend or loved one, call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 for free, confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Former students, parents speak on anti-LGBTQ bullying at Nex Benedict's school

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Nex Benedict's death has been ruled a suicide, shining a renewed spotlight on the intensifying environment in Oklahoma schools and anti-LGBTQ bullying.

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Huge resurgence in homophobic insults in schools - campaigner

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Huge resurgence in homophobic insults in schools - campaigner

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December 15, 2024

A website article

Published: BBC

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Children as young as seven are using homophobic language, with a "huge resurgence" in offensive insults in schools, according to a former teacher and consultant.

Ian Timbrell, who works with schools on LGBT+ inclusion, said a growing number of teachers have asked for his help after hearing derogatory terms used recently.

Social media apps such as TikTok were highlighted as mediums where such language were heard - although a company spokesperson said it removed almost 90% of videos that violated policies on bullying and hate speech before they were reported.

The Welsh government said: "Any form of bullying, discrimination, or sexual harassment is completely unacceptable."
Warning: This story contains offensive discriminatory language.
Mr Timbrell, who was a teacher for 17 years, said he did not recall hearing the phrase "that's so gay" through his career.

However, in the past 12 months, he felt there had been a "huge resurgence".

"A lot of it is their families and their parents who are using it," he said.

"But a lot of it is social media from the United States, TikTok accounts, things like that."

The Cardiff-based father-of-one now runs a not-for-profit organisation, More than Flags and Rainbows, that aims to make schools and colleges more inclusive, as well as challenging homophobia.

"Ignorance is not an excuse," he added.

"If people are saying 'I didn't mean it like that, or I don't know what it means', well it's our responsibility as parents, as teachers, to educate them on why it is."

He said he would use his own experiences to explain to pupils how hurtful it can be when the term is used in this negative way.

"The only way that we will stop this is if everyone stands up to it, whether you're a teacher, a parent, a young person," he said.

A report by Estyn in December 2021 found that LGBTQ+ pupils have substantial personal experiences of verbal homophobic harassment. Many said homophobic bullying happened all the time as the most common type of harassment in their school.

Ashton Taylor, who came out as trans at 15, does not have fond memories of school.

"One of the things that I found was I was being called a lesbian quite a lot, which to a teacher they might not pick up on that being hateful," he said.

"But again, that is like something that would affect me quite a lot as a child."

The 22-year-old from Caerphilly said he heard homophobic language from the age of 11 in school, which made him "more afraid to come out".

"I think it's starting to change, but I think it's still very much a big issue, especially in smaller communities," he said.

The law student now visits schools and universities to give talks based on his experience.

"I've spoken to people who were maybe not that nice to me in school, and they've bought me a pint in the pub, because I've sat and spoke to them, and they've grown up a bit, reflected, and actually sat and listened to me," he said.

Ashton said he overcame his experiences by sharing his story and pushing himself out of his comfort zone, travelling all over the world to do so.

The issue is a familiar one for Just Like Us, a charity working with schools to support LGBT+ young people.

Its research, in conjunction with VotesforSchools - which provides resources to teachers to support discussions on topical issues - found nearly four out of five primary school pupils they spoke to in England heard homophobic language.

The survey of nearly 32,000 pupils included more than 4,000 primary school pupils.

The organisation, which works with 272 schools in Wales, said it believed it remained an issue across the UK.

"'Gay' as an insult has not gone away from school playgrounds and classrooms, and I think it's been exacerbated by social media," said Amy Ashenden, who led the research.

"I think sometimes even as LGBT+ adults, we like to think that things have got better, but lots of young people are still facing a lot of the same challenges...this is just another example of that."

A spokesperson for TikTok said it did not allow content that included a hateful slur or attacked a person or group on the basis of their gender, gender identity, sex, or sexual orientation.

The social media platform's enforcement report from April to June this year showed it removed 88% of videos violating its hate speech policies and 89% of videos violating its bullying and harassment policies before they were reported.

The Welsh government said the curriculum taught across Wales was designed to promote "empathy, respect, and kindness".

"Learners are supported to challenge discriminatory language and reduce bullying," a spokesperson added.

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LGBT+ inclusion work as ex-teacher challenges homophobic slurs

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There is a "resurgence" of schoolchildren using homophobic insults, claims a former teacher.

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Empowering LGBTQIA+ Students Through Inclusive Education - NAESP

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Schools can use these strategies—complete with 11 NAESP resources—to create environments where every student feels safe, valued, and empowered to be their authentic selves.

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Parents can opt kids out of LGBTQ+ lessons after court decision: What it means for schools

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The Supreme Court voted to allow parents to withdraw their children from classroom LGBTQ+ lessons in public schools.