The kids aren't alright: Depression and anxiety rates are skyrocketing among LGBTQ+ youth

LGBTQ+ youth in the United States already had poor mental health — but it's only gotten worse in the past two years.

Mental health crises among LGBTQ+ youth have recently risen significantly, according to a new report from The Trevor Project, with anxiety symptoms climbing from 57 percent to 68 percent, depressive symptoms increasing from 48 percent to 54 percent, and suicidal ideation growing from 41 percent to 47 percent. While past-year suicide attempts declined from 11 percent to 7 percent, the rate remains higher than national estimates for cisgender heterosexual youth.

“While many of the findings in this study are devastating, they are not surprising,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. “LGBTQ+ young people in this country continue to face elevated levels of stigma and political rhetoric, which take a serious toll on their mental health and well-being."

Project SPARK Interim Report: A Longitudinal Study of Risk and Protective Factors in LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health is the organization’s first-ever longitudinal study, featuring data from 1,689 LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-24) across the U.S. collected every six months between September 2023 and March 2025.

Related: Anti-LGBTQ+ laws lead to 'public health crisis' with higher suicide rates among queer youth

Transgender and nonbinary youth ages 13 to 17 reported the poorest mental health and highest risk for suicide, being nearly twice as likely to report anxiety (70 percent vs. 42 percent ) and suicidal ideation (53 percent vs. 28 percent ) compared to cisgender peers.

In the past year, one-third of all participants reported being physically harassed or threatened because of their sexual orientation, and two-fifths of trans and nonbinary respondents said they were harassed or threatened because of their gender identity. Over half of all participants (55 percent) said they have been discriminated against because of their sexual orientation, and over two-thirds of trans and nonbinary respondents (66 percent) experienced discrimination based on their gender identity.

Black said that the report's findings "allow us to clearly and unequivocally document what we know to be true: the manner in which LGBTQ+ youth are treated in this country harms their health and risks their lives, and it is only getting worse."

"I hope that lawmakers, community leaders, and youth-serving professionals take stock of these research findings, and join our efforts to support the health and safety of LGBTQ+ young people across the country," he concluded.

If you or someone you know needs mental health support, please call, text, or chat with the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services. Trans Lifeline, designed for transgender or gender-nonconforming people, can be reached at (877) 565-8860. The lifeline also provides resources to help with other crises, such as domestic violence situations. The Trevor Project Lifeline, for LGBTQ+ youth (ages 24 and younger), can be reached at (866) 488-7386. Users can also access chat services at TheTrevorProject.org/Help or text START to 678678.