This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

LGBTQ+ youth continue to face high rates of anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts, driven by ongoing discrimination, a new report says.

However, acceptance and access to care can reduce the risk of mental health problems and suicide among these kids, according to The Trevor Project report.

"This research affirms what we have long known to be true: creating welcoming and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ youth is a lifesaving intervention," Dr. Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project, said in a news release.

The Trevor Project is a suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ+ young people.

The report reveals two-year findings from Project SPARK, an ongoing study that is following nearly 1,700 LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 24 across the United States. Participants have responded to surveys every six months since September 2023.

Results of two years of follow-up showed that LGBTQ+ youth exposed to or threatened with conversion therapy had a nearly three times higher risk of suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

Likewise, those without a home or those who'd been victimized based on their gender identity had more than double the risk of self-harm or suicidal thoughts.

These risks are driven by a national landscape that seems ever more hazardous for LGBTQ+ people, the report found. For example:

More transgender, nonbinary or gender-questioning youth reported discrimination, up from 57% to 67%.

Source link