NATIONAL SURVEY ON LGBTQ YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH 2019 INTRODUCTION I’m proud to share The Trevor Project’s inaugural National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health. This is our first wide-ranging report from Among some of the key findings of the The Trevor Project’s a cross-sectional national survey of LGBTQ report from LGBTQ youth in the survey: youth across the United States. With National Survey on LGBTQ Youth over 34,000 respondents, it is the largest • 39% of LGBTQ youth seriously Mental Health is part of our considered attempting suicide in the survey of LGBTQ youth mental health commitment to use research and ever conducted and provides a critical past twelve months, with more understanding of the experiences than half of transgender and non-binary data to continually improve impacting their lives. youth having seriously considered our life-saving services for LGBTQ • 71% of LGBTQ youth reported youth and expand the know- This ground-breaking survey feeling sad or hopeless for at least provides new insights into two weeks in the past year ledge base for organizations the challenges that LGBTQ youth • Less than half of LGBTQ respondents around the globe. across the country face every were out to an adult at school, with youth less likely to disclose their This survey builds upon critical research day, including suicide, feeling sad gender identity than sexual orientation done by many of our partner organizations over the years and we are particularly or hopeless, discrimination, • 2 in 3 LGBTQ youth reported that proud that it is inclusive of youth of more physical threats and exposure someone tried to convince them than 100 sexual orientations and to conversion therapy. to change their sexual orientation more than 100 gender identities from or gender identity, with youth who all 50 states across the country. The data provides a sobering look at how have undergone conversion therapy We hope this report elevates the voices far we still have to go to protect LGBTQ more than twice as likely to attempt and experiences of LGBTQ youth, providing young lives. But the survey also reveals suicide as those who did not insights that can be used by the many the resilience and diversity of LGBTQ youth • 71% of LGBTQ youth in our study organizations working alongside The Trevor and provides guidance on what can be reported discrimination due Project to support LGBTQ young people done to enable them to survive and thrive. to either their sexual orientation around the world. We also hope this report or gender identity shows LGBTQ youth that we hear them, that their lives have value, and that we are • 58% of transgender and non-binary here to support them 24/7. youth reported being discouraged from using a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity • 76% of LGBTQ youth felt that the recent political climate impacted their mental health or sense of self • 87% of LGBTQ youth said it was important to them to reach out to a crisis intervention organization that focuses on LGBTQ youth and 98% said a safe space social networking site for LGBTQ Amit Paley youth would be valuable to them CEO & Executive Director The Trevor Project p.1 SUICIDALITY & MENTAL HEALTH 39 % of LGBTQ respondents seriously considered attempting suicide in the past twelve months. More than half of transgender and non-binary youth have seriously considered suicide. LGBTQ youth that Youth who attempted suicide among considered and attempted suicide: those who considered: By Gender Identity: Cisgender 31% 14% Transgender and non-binary 53% Transgender and 54% Cisgender 44% non-binary 29% Gender Identity By Age: 13–17 47% 26% 18–24 13-17 year olds 55% 31% 37% 18-24 year olds 11% Age 71% of respondents reported • Over 18% of LGBTQ respondents attempted suicide feeling sad or hopeless for at least in the past twelve months two weeks in the past year • 29% of transgender and non-binary youth respondents have attempted suicide • 76% of the sample felt that recent politics impacted their mental health or sense of self • 47% of the sample received psychological or emotional counseling from a mental health professional p.2 CONVERSION THERAPY & CHANGE ATTEMPTS 2 in 3 youth in our study reported that someone tried to convince them to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. LGBTQ youth who reported someone Youth who attempted suicide, comparison attempted to convince them to change their of those who experienced attempts to change sexual orientation or gender identity*: their sexual orientation or gender identity to those who had not: No attempt to 23% Attempt to convince to change convince to change 33% Attempt to convince to change No attempt to 8% 67% convince to change Youth who Attempted Suicide LGBTQ youth who Youth who attempted suicide, 57 % of transgender and non- reported undergoing comparison of those binary youth who have undergone conversion therapy*: who experienced conversion conversion therapy report therapy with those who a suicide attempt in the last year. had not: Conversion therapy 42% Conversion * Some LGBTQ youth who have undergone 5% therapy conversion therapy may not use that term to describe their experience. We No conversion asked youth separately whether someone therapy attempted to convince them to change 95% their sexual orientation or gender identity No conversion 17% and whether they underwent conversion therapy therapy in order to fully capture the ways youth experience efforts to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. Youth who Attempted Suicide p.3 DISCRIMINATION & PHYSICAL HARM 71% of LGBTQ youth in our study reported experiencing discrimination due to either their sexual orientation or gender identity. 78% of transgender and LGBTQ youth who Youth who attempted suicide, non-binary youth reported being experienced physical harm comparison of those who the subject of discrimination due to either their sexual experienced physical harm due to their gender identity and orientation or gender identity: with those who had not: 70% of LGBTQ youth reported discrimination due to their 36% Physical harm sexual orientation. Physical harm 20% No physical harm 80% No physical 13% harm Youth who Attempted Suicide LGBTQ youth who Youth who attempted suicide, 58% of transgender and experienced discrimination comparison of those who non-binary youth reported due to either their sexual experienced discrimination being discouraged from using orientation or gender identity: with those who had not: a bathroom that corresponds to their gender identity. 22% Discrimination No discrimination 29% Discrimination 71% 9% No discrimination Youth who Attempted Suicide p.4 DISCLOSURE Less than half of LGBTQ respondents were out to an adult at school. Youth are less likely to disclose their gender identity than sexual orientation. With whom do LGBTQ youth share their sexual orientation and gender identity? Peers Adults Online / Other 93% 85% 68% 51% 36% 30% LGBTQ Online Resource Friends Parents or Chat Room 87% LGBTQ youth disclosed their 59% sexual orientation and gender identity to their friends at 43% 40% Teacher or the highest rates, but are also Straight Guidance disclosing to adults in their lives. Friends Counselor Gender identity (for those identifying as transgender and non-binary) is disclosed at a lower rate than sexual orientation (for those not identifying as straight). 60% 35% Doctor or 30% 29% Other Healthcare Classmates Professional p.5 YOUTH SUPPORT PREFERENCES 76% of youth respondents indicated that they would be somewhat to extremely likely to reach out via text or chat in a crisis. How valuable is an LGBTQ How important would it be to you to safe-space networking site? reach out to a crisis intervention organization focused on LGBTQ youth? Not at all 2% Somewhat Extremely Not at all 17% 34% 5% Very Very Slightly 81% 28% 8% Moderately 25% Youth indicated a strong digital If you needed to reach out to a crisis preference for reaching out when intervention organization for support, in crisis. how likely are you to reach out via chat/instant message or text message? Somewhat to extremely unlikely 12% Neither likely nor unlikely 11% Somewhat to extremely likely 76% p.6 DIVERSITY OF LGBTQ YOUTH LGBTQ youth are in all parts and communities of America, with a large amount identifying sexual orientation and gender identity in non-binary ways. Respondents were from all 50 states. 39% were religious. LGBTQ youth in the survey identified with LGBTQ youth in the survey identified with more than 100 sexual orientations more than 100 gender identities p.7 RESEARCH The mission of The Trevor Project’s Research Department is to produce and use innovative research that brings new knowledge and clinical implications to the field of suicidology and LGBTQ mental health. To address this mission we: Advance Scientific Inquiry Support The Trevor Project’s Inform Public Knowledge Life-Saving Work Providing empirical data to better Using internal and external data and Ensuring our research and evaluation understand the lives of LGBTQ youth research findings to advance Trevor’s crisis findings are applicable and widely and suicidality including risk factors, services and peer support programs as communicated to the broader public protective factors, and outcomes. well as advocacy and education initiatives. including LGBTQ-youth-serving agencies and mental health organizations. • The Trevor Project will be a leading • The Trevor Project’s advocacy and training source of scientific information on the activities will be supported by data • The Trevor Project will serve as a needs and strengths of LGBTQ youth collected directly by The Trevor Project national model on how to integrate the • The Trevor Project will collaborate with as well as evidence gathered from the best research evidence into its practices, key national and international broader research literature programs, and policies research teams and agencies to improve • The Trevor Project will embody an • The Trevor Project will be a leading the lives of LGBTQ youth evidence-informed culture in which resource on terminology related all staff are supported and recognized to LGBTQ youth in the use of research evidence Recommended Citation The Trevor Project.