Get the Facts
Suicide & LGBTQ Populations

Transgender & Nonbinary Youth
More than 60%
of transgender and nonbinary youth under the age of 18 said that none of the people they live with respected their pronouns1 .
Mental Health
LGBTQ youth are impacted by suicide risk factors, as well as:
- mental health care disparities
- family rejection
- discrimination
- food insecurity
- conversion therapy
The overwhelming majority of LGBTQ youth reported recent symptoms of generalized anxiety disorder or major depressive disorder1.
Race & Ethnicity
Suicide Rates Compared
White Youth | Native/Indigenous Youth | Black Youth | Latinx Youth | Asian/Pacific Islander Youth | Multiracial Youth |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
12% | 31% | 21% | 18% | 12% | 21% |
Data from The Trevor Project’s 2021 National Survey on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health.
Half
of all LGBTQ youth of color reported experiencing discrimination based on their race/ethnicity in the past year, including:
67%
of Black LGBTQ youth, and,
60%
of Asian/Pacific Islander LGBTQ youth1
COVID-19 Pandemic
Both food insecurity and unemployment are significant risk factors for suicide among all populations.
30%
reported having trouble affording enough food in the past month1
Risk Factors for LGBTQ Youth
Protective Factors for LGBTQ Youth
Get Support. Give Support.
How to Take Care of Yourself
How to Help Someone Else
If you’re struggling please feel free to call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988. To chat with the Lifelin online, go to 988Lifeline.org. It is available 24/7 and is confidential.
- Know You Are Not Alone - LGBTQ+ people around the world have been through the same struggle.
- Build Your Support Network - Find allies in your life who will help keep you safe and who you can lean on if you feel depressed or suicidal.
- Talk to Someone - Silence isn’t strength. Don’t keep suicidal feelings to yourself. Lean on your support network, find a therapist or a support group, or get in touch with the Lifeline.
- Make a Safety Plan - Have a step-by-step plan ready for if/when you feel depressed, suicidal, or in crisis, so you can start at step one and continue through the steps until you feel safe.
We all have a role in preventing suicide. Learn how to support and be an ally to your LGBTQ+ loved ones.
- Be an Ally - If you’re straight, publicly show your support for the LGBTQ+ community. If you’re LGBTQ+, affirm your identity and offer support to loved ones.
- Know the Facts - Over 80% of LGBTQ+ youth have been assaulted or threatened, and every instance of victimization in an LGBTQ+ person’s life more than doubles the likelihood of self-harming.
- Ask and Listen - Be an active part of your LGBTQ+ loved ones’ support systems and check in with them often. If they show any warning signs for suicide, be direct. Tell them it’s OK to talk about suicidal feelings. Practice active listening techniques and let them talk without judgment.
- Get Them Help and Take Care of Yourself - Don’t be afraid to get your loved one the help they might need. The Lifeline is always here to talk or chat, both for crisis intervention and to support allies.
Resources
General LGBTQ+ Resources
Transgender & Non-Binary Youth
Parents of LGBTQ+ Youth
LGBTQ+ Youth Serving Adults & Other Allies
The overall objective in helping families learn to support their LGBT children is not to change their values or deeply-held beliefs. Instead, practitioners should aim to meet parents, families, and caregivers “where they are,” to build an alliance to support their LGBT children, and to help them understand that family reactions that are experienced as rejection by their LGBT child contribute to serious health concerns and inhibit their child’s development and wellbeing.
Get Help Now
Local & State Resources
National Resources
Special thanks to The Trevor Project and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.
References
1. The Trevor Project. (2021). National survey on LGBTQ youth mental health 2021. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2021/?section=SuicideMentalHealth.
2. The Trevor Project. (n.d.). Suicide risk factors. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/resources/preventing-suicide/suicide-risk-factors/.
3. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration & The Danya Institute. (n.d.). LGBTQ Suicide Prevention [Fact sheet].