The Trevor Project, a national suicide prevention nonprofit for LGBTQ+ Youth, is State-by-state exterior With target demographic mental health.
The data are based on a 2024 survey of over 28,500 LGBTQ+ adolescents aged 13-24. Nationally, 39% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that they have been considering suicide over the past year, with survey results showing that the figure was 46% between transgender and non-binary youth. Among the survey participants who said they wanted mental health care, half of them didn’t get it.
Ronita Nath, vice president of research at Trevor Project, said the organization will develop state-level analyses to help make decisions about mental health support that is more coordinated to the community.
While the experiences of LGBTQ+ youth may differ within the state and within the state, Nath says the data provides a consistent link between youth and mental health that they feel accepted in that way.
“LGBTQ+ youth reported that levels of access to positive homes and supportive communities differed between states, but these factors were universally associated with a lower rate of suicide thoughts and attempts, as well as a lower rate of anxiety and depression,” says Nath.
The results also show that the policy environment in each state is important, she explains. Broadly speaking, LGBTQ+ youth living in states with more protective and inclusive policies generally report lower rates of suicide thoughts and attempts, and fewer barriers than those living in states with more restrictive or hostile policies, Nath said.
Data shows that access to mental health care is a challenge nationwide, with over 50% of survey respondents in all but two states reporting that they experience bullying and discrimination.
LGBTQ+ youths living in the South reported some of the highest percentages of mental health care barriers in South Carolina, with the highest percentages of discrimination based on mental orientation or gender identity, and 60% in Texas. Midwest state youth reported some of the highest rates of suicidal ideation and attempted suicide. In Nebraska, for example, 45% of LGBTQ+ young people thought they would commit suicide, and 16% tried it.
Northeastern LGBTQ+ youth have the highest percentage of accepted emotions in their community, with 90% in Massachusetts and 81% in Maine, with lower suicidal thoughts and attempts compared to other regions. Western survey participants had a relatively high percentage of 54% affirming a home environment in both Montana and Oregon, but also had a high rate of depression, including 52% of LGBTQ+ California youth.
Nasu says a unique issue for today’s LGBTQ+ youth is the impact that politics has on mental health and life. There is little data on topics from decades ago, but current research and others It shows the link between negative political rhetoric and worse mental health among LGBTQ+ youth.
“young [LGBTQ+] People don’t tend to be at an inherently higher risk of suicide compared to their peers, but rather they are placed at this high risk because of how much of it is abused, untreated, blamed and blamed through anti-LGBTQ+ politics,” Nass says. “I think the trend will continue unless you really ask us to take these steps instead of creating an environment-affirming environment.”
For advocates of mental health and happiness working with LGBTQ+ youth, the reality of supporting youth on earth is complicated.
Helping hands in New Mexico
On arriving at Casa Q, an Albuquerque nonprofit that caters to the risk of LGBTQ+ homelessness, executive director Shannon Darrell said “we are either state custody or queer and have no other options to place within the state.”
“Young people often try to find safe land that will fully embrace them,” says Darrell. “Queri youth find it particularly difficult to find safety, acceptance and positive care in the general system. We aim to provide that more to our youth.”
Open in Albuquerque for 10 years, CASA Q has 5 bedroom residential space for off-site apartments with children aged 14-17, which can accommodate four young adults aged 18-22.
According to a state report from the Trevor Project, 43% of LGBTQ+ young people in New Mexico took suicide seriously in the past year, with 14% trying to commit suicide in the same period.
Of New Mexico’s survey participants who wanted mental health services, 53 said they would not receive it. The main reason was that they were afraid to talk to someone else about their mental health concerns, followed by costs.
Darrell said Albuquerque has a “slight” mental health institution that can help with gender and odd mental health services. New Mexico’s ACLU describes the state as “one of the most protected states in the country for LGBTQ+ individuals,” thanks to laws that protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in areas such as schools and healthcare.
While he is generally positive about New Mexico’s climate, Darrell says the state could still be a complicated place when it comes to acceptance.
“We have regions in states where individuals don’t show support, but I would like to believe that New Mexico has more supporters than non-supporters,” she says. “For example, there are school districts where teachers don’t want to use safe space stickers in their classrooms. Meanwhile, there are school districts that display pronouns, preferred names, and even solidarity visuals within the school, just as our youth are safe from discrimination and hatred and are full of pride.”
Darrell has young people who work with anti-LGBTQ+ political rhetoric mixed feelings about their future, but staff at the organization want to set an example for these young people to advocate for themselves.
“Negative political speeches have caused more trauma to these young people who are already exposed to abuse, neglect, death of loved ones, rejection, identity challenges and many other traumas,” she says. “We want to continue a good fight and show our youth that they are seen, heard and supported.”
Utah Paradox
Among Utah LGBTQ+ youth, data from the Trevor Project found that 42% reported considering suicide over the past year, while 11% have attempted suicide.
47% said they wanted but didn’t receive mental health care, and costs were cited as the main barrier.
93% said that recent politics has influenced their well-being “sometimes” or “many.”
One place for LGBTQ+ youth in Utah to find a supportive community among their peers is Exalcul.
Alex Cutini is the executive director of a nonprofit organization and provides mental health counseling to LGBTQ+ youth and families in Utah. He says that the social elements of their services will “provide hope and concrete reminders that they are not alone, that they are OK. The community will play an important role in fighting over the fate of LGBTQ+ identities, reducing shame and eliminating isolation.”
There are still strong supporters of Utah’s LGBTQ+ youth, but he explains that “the environment as a whole has become more challenging in recent years.”
Utah has banned gender-affirming care Two years ago for transgender youth, the state legislature was Limits gender-affirming care in adults. LGBTQ+ youths say they could face challenges in getting mental health services in Utah, especially in rural areas.
Many of the introductions to Encircle are created by “close networks of family, friends and neighbors” who want to help young people and families get mental health support, he adds.
