LGBTQ Youth Experiencing a Mental Health Crisis

Content Warning: The contents of this article include ideations of suicide.

Amidst the worldwide COVID pandemic a series of surveys that have been released indicate LGBTQ youth are experiencing a mental health crisis. The U.K. nonprofit Just Like Us released a news report on Monday during the annual International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia; their findings indicate that queer and transgender youth community members are three times more likely than their straight, cisgender peers to suffer through suicidal ideations and are twice as likely to self harm. 

These polls were conducted between December 2020 and January 2021. Chief executive of Just Like Us Dominic Arnall says the findings were “sadly unsurprising.” Due to the fact COVID-19 has placed immense strain on LGBTQ individuals, many respondents were forced to move back in with their parents.

In total, 1,140 LGBTQ members between the ages of 11-18 were polled, resulting in 68 percent of respondents stating they’ve previously contemplated suicide, and 29 percent of non-LGBTQ respondents indicated that they’ve experienced ideations of ending their lives. The transgender and lesbian respondents specifically were the most affected groups, reporting that 77 percent and 74 percent of them experience thoughts of suicide.

Arnall stated that results indicate “society’s lack of acceptance can impact on your mental health and wellbeing.”

In a previous survey conducted by Just Like Us, LGBTQ respondents claim that regarding their sexual orientation, they’ve “received little-to-zero positive messaging at school” within the past year. One way to address queer and transgender youth members experiencing trauma is to affirm their gender identities, claims JLU.

“LGBTQ young people need to hear from their families and schools that there is nothing wrong with who they are and that they can have a bright future ahead of them,” Arnall said.

Affirming our struggling, LGBTQ youth members that it’s OK to be out and proud is even more important during these trying times.