LGBTQ youth say political attacks are fueling mental health crisis

The current political climate in America, including repeated attacks on LGBTQ rights that have focused on young people in recent years, has affected the overall lives of almost all young queer people, according to a national survey published Wednesday by Trevor Newspapers. It is a major cause of stress that affects the quality of life. project.

About 90% of the 18,000 respondents to the annual survey reported that politics had a negative impact on their well-being, including their self-esteem and sense of safety.

The study found that more than one in 10 LGBTQ youth had attempted suicide in the previous year. Nearly one in five transgender youth has attempted suicide, making them the group with the highest suicide attempt rate. These numbers mirror previous years and are several times higher than the number of young people who do not identify as LGBTQ.

Overall, LGBTQ youth report higher rates of bullying, feelings of hopelessness and hopelessness, and suicidal ideation, according to research by The Trevor Project. And they face these challenges in the context of poor access to mental health and other support services.

“It is clear that our country is facing a youth mental health crisis, and this mental health crisis is particularly acute among LGBTQ youth,” said Ronita Nath, vice president of research at The Trevor Project. “When I look at this data, what always strikes me is that despite the high proportion of people who need it, half of them don’t get the mental health care they want.”

The survey was conducted among people ages 13 to 24 who identify as LGBTQ. The Trevor Project is a national nonprofit organization focused on ending suicide among LGBTQ youth.

Symptoms of depression and anxiety were common in 53% and 66%, respectively. About 39% of those surveyed said they or a family member had considered moving to another state because of local anti-LGBTQ politics. Almost half of children ages 13 to 17 said they had been bullied in the past year, and 23% of all LGBTQ youth said they had received a threat of physical harm because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Lance Preston, who runs a call center for LGBTQ youth seeking mental health help, said he was particularly disturbed by the high percentage of young people who reported that politics had a negative impact on them. Ta. And anti-LGBTQ bills aren’t the only thing on their minds: Preston said the number of calls skyrocketed after the death of Nex Benedict, a trans student in Oklahoma who committed suicide after being severely bullied at school. Ta.

“It’s an ongoing attack and something new every day,” said Preston, executive director of the Rainbow Youth Project. The Indiana-based group has set up a hotline for California students affected by anti-LGBTQ school policies.

“I think young people are finding themselves in situations like that, not just in their own communities, but across the country, and they’re falling into despair,” Preston said. “They see all this and feel very misunderstood, and no one is willing to take the time to understand.”

What was most striking to some LGBTQ experts was the gap among young people who want mental health care but don’t have access to it. More than 80% of respondents said they wanted care, but only half of them were able to receive care.

Many respondents reported not receiving mental health care because they could not afford it or were worried about getting their parents’ permission. About a quarter said they were worried that seeking care would mean relying on their parents or others.

Among transgender and non-binary youth, 13% said they were taking gender-affirming hormones, and only 2% were taking puberty blockers. Nearly two-thirds of people taking hormone drugs said they were worried they would no longer be able to access their treatment.

Eric Stanley, a professor of gender and women’s studies at the University of California, Berkeley, said, “There’s this illusion that people have unlimited access to things that are actually incredibly difficult to obtain,” especially among adolescents. He noted the small number of young people taking blockers. Blocker has become the focus of a national attack on gender-affirming care for minors.

“Young people are suffering in isolation, without access to what they need, without proper support. We see how high the numbers are for suicidal ideation and attempts,” Mr Stanley said.

Nass said if there was a silver lining from the findings, it was that supporting young people could have a huge positive impact on their mental health.

When asked how allies and adults should support LGBTQ youth, the most common response was “trusting them to know who they are,” followed by “standing up for me.” was. Many of the attacks on gender-affirming care for minors focus on the idea that young people are confused about their identities or are capable of changing their minds.

“Overall, suicide rates were much lower among young people who had access to positive families and schools,” Nass said. “We have a path forward. There are things we can all do as individuals and as communities to ensure they thrive and live their best lives.”

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the toll-free 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline 24 hours a day by dialing “988” or text “HOME” to 741741 and contact a crisis counselor at any time.

Trevor Project counselors are available 24 hours a day at 1-866-488-7386, chat at TheTrevorProject.org/Get-Help, or text START 678678.

Contact Erin Allday: eallday@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @erinallday