Alarming statistics released this week by the Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention organization, reveal that nearly 40% of LGBTQ+ youth in the United States have seriously considered suicide in the past year. This data stems from a survey conducted among over 18,500 individuals aged 13 to 24 between September and December 2023. The findings shed light on the mental health challenges faced by queer youth, especially in an environment where over 480 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced across the nation. This survey supplemented the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behavior Survey released last year. The CDC data stated that feelings of sadness or hopelessness were reported by LGBTQ+ youth at a rate of 69%, as compared to heterosexual students at 35%. Restated, LGBTQ+ youth are twice as likely to feel sadness and hopelessness. Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at the Trevor Project, underscores the need for supportive communities among the recent political developments that have negatively affected the well-being of a staggering 90% of all study youth respondents. Instances of physical threats, bullying, discrimination, and conversion therapy have doubled the suicide attempt rates among affected youth. The 2024 Trevor Project survey comes shortly after the latest report by UCLA School of Law’s Williams Institute which shows that 93% of trans youth aged 13 to 17 are in states where anti LGBTQ+ bills have been passed or are under consideration. The report noted that these growing attacks in America have been launched by radical conservatives and faith based evangelical organizations. Against such a grim backdrop, Nath urges, “ politicians, members of the media, anyone publicly debating about LGBTQ+ young people to really understand that… protecting and supporting the mental health and well-being of young people, you know, should not be up for political debate.”
