LGBTQ+ Health
Far too many LGBTQ+ youth are treated poorly simply based on who they love and how they identify. Due to these upsetting experiences, many LGBTQ+ youth report having poor health and life outcomes.
LGBTQ+ Youth & Family
Family support plays a major role in health outcomes. With support from parents and other family members, LGBTQ+ youth have greater self-esteem and a lower risk of depression, distress, hopelessness, and substance use. Below are statistics from the HRC 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report pertaining to family support and health:
- 24% of LGBTQ+ youth can “definitely” be themselves at home
- 25% of LGBTQ+ youth have families who show support for them by getting involved in the larger LGBTQ+ community
- 67% of LGBTQ+ hear their families make negative comments about LGBTQ+ people
- 48% of LGBTQ+ youth say their families make them feel bad about being LGBTQ+
- Transgender youth are over two times more likely to be taunted by family for their identity than gay, lesbian or bisexual youth
LGBTQ+ Youth & Mental Health
Youth in the LGBTQ+ community continue to have a disproportionate rate of mental illness compared to non-LGBTQ+ youth. LGBTQ+ youth face a variety of stressors—harassment, rejection, bullying, isolation, and a lack of belonging—that have a major impact on their mental health. Below are statistics from the HRC 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report pertaining to mental health:
- 77% of LGBTQ+ teens reported feeling depressed or down in the past week
- 95% of LGBTQ+ youth reported trouble sleeping at night
- More than 70% of LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling worthlessness and hopelessness in the past week
- Nearly 30% of LGBTQ+ youth had attempted suicide at least once in the past year compared to 6% of non-LGBTQ+ youth
- 85% of LGBTQ+ youth rate their average stress level as a ‘5’ or higher on a scale of 1-10
LGBTQ+ Youth & Substance Use
LGBTQ+ youth are more at risk for substance use than their non-LGBTQ+ peers mostly because of the daily prejudice and challenges they face. Below are statistics from the HRC 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report pertaining to substance use:
Compared to non-LGBTQ+ youth, LGBTQ+ youth have...
- 1.3 times the odds of heavy alcohol use
- 1.6 times the odds of marijuana use
- 2.9 times the odds of injection drug use
- 3.3 times the odds of cocaine use
LGBTQ+ Youth & Violence
Sadly, many LGBTQ+ youth are at an increased risk of experiencing violence, specifically sexual violence. Below are statistics from the HRC 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report pertaining to violence:
- 11% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that they have been sexually attacked or raped because of their actual or assumed identity
- 77% of LGBTQ+ youth reported receiving unwanted sexual comments, jokes, and gestures
- 20% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that they were forced to sexual things they did not want to do
- 3 in 10 LGBTQ+ youth have received physical threats due to their identity
- 50% of transgender girls have been physically threatened
LGBTQ+ Youth & School
Since youth spend majority of their time at school, their experiences in the school environment have a critical impact on their health. Unfortunately, majority of LGBTQ+ youth experience negative and hostile school environments. Below are statistics from the HRC 2018 LGBTQ Youth Report pertaining to the school environment:
- 27% of LGBTQ+ youth can “definitely” be themselves in school
- 13% of LGBTQ+ youth reported hearing positive messages about being LGBTQ+ in school
- 12% of LGBTQ+ youth received information about safe sex that was relevant to them as an LGBTQ+ person
- Only 26% of LGBTQ+ youth reported that they always feel safe in the classroom
- 70% of LGBTQ+ youth have been bullied at school because of their sexual orientation or identity
- 43% of LGBTQ+ youth have been bullied on school property
- 51% of transgender youth can never use the restrooms or locker rooms that match their gender identity
- Only 1 in 3 transgender youth are always called by their true name in school
- Only 1 in 5 transgender youth are always called by their pronouns in school
- Just 5% of LGBTQ+ youth say all their teachers and school staff are supportive of the LGBTQ+ community
LGBTQ+ Resources
You should never be afraid to express who you are or who you love. Here are some resources specifically for LGBTQ+ youth:
- Leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevent services to LGBTQ+ youth
- TrevorLifeline: 1-866-488-7386 (available 24/7)
- TrevorChat (Confidential online instant messaging with a Trevor Counselor available 24/7)
- TrevorText: Text START to 678678 (Confidential text messaging with a Trevor Counselor available 24/7)
- TrevorSpace(affirming international peer-to-peer community for LGBTQ+ youth and friends)
- Largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for LGBTQ+ Americans with more than 3 million members
- Become a member and connect with others in your community
3. Q Chat Space
- A community for LGBTQ+ teens to chat with like-minded peers in live chats with verified facilitators
- A trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive
- Trans Lifeline’s Peer Support Hotline: 877-565-8860
- Provides free confidential peer-support and local resources
- LGBT National Youth Talkline: 800-246-7743
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