Sarah Toce
The 2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People, conducted by The Trevor Project, reveals alarming trends in mental health, access to care, and the impact of societal and political pressures on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning young people across the United States. The survey collected responses from more than 18,000 LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13–24 between September and December 2023.
Key Findings
Suicide Risk & Mental Health
- 39% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year — including 46% of transgender and nonbinary respondents.
- 12% of LGBTQ+ youth attempted suicide in the past year.
- Suicide risk was higher among LGBTQ+ youth of color compared to their white peers.
- Those living in accepting communities had significantly lower suicide attempt rates than those in unaccepting environments.
Access to Mental Health Care
- Half (50%) of LGBTQ+ young people who wanted mental health care could not access it over the past year.
- Transgender and nonbinary youth who found their school gender-affirming reported lower rates of suicide attempts than those in less affirming environments.
Bullying and Victimization
- Nearly 49% of LGBTQ+ youth aged 13–17 experienced bullying in the past year, which correlated with higher suicide risk.
Political and Social Climate
- A staggering 90% of LGBTQ+ young people said their well-being was negatively affected by recent politics and legislation targeting LGBTQ+ identities.
- 45% of transgender and nonbinary youth reported that they or their family considered moving to a different state because of anti-LGBTQ+ politics and laws.
Context & Implications
The report provides crucial evidence that hostile political environments, discrimination, and a lack of affirming supports are contributing directly to worsening mental health outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth. It underscores the public health urgency of expanding accessible, affirming mental health care, reducing stigma in schools and communities, and addressing the broader social pressures that elevate risk for suicide.
