PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A new survey shows LGBTQ+ youth are facing heightened mental health challenges due to bullying and victimization from anti-LGBTQ+ policies.
As the LGBTQ+ community celebrates culture, history and equal rights this Pride Month, it’s also educating and raising awareness of the issues and challenges that still exist especially for young people.
According to a survey from the Trevor Project on the mental health of LGBTQ+ youth, 36% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide last year.
“Even more attempts or completed suicides have happened because people feel like they don’t have any other option,” said Molly Alvord, a licensed clinical social worker with Thriveworks in Philadelphia.
“If you know your family is rejecting you or saying things to you, it really has a negative impact on your mental health, and you may even get kicked out of the house, or lose any support that you have.”
She said young people also have to navigate laws targeting transgender individuals, access to health care, free expression, and DEI, which can be challenging for those who are starting to come into their own.
“There are a lot of younger people that have never experienced this,” said Alvord. “They were used to being accepted, and now there’s this challenge and it’s very disruptive.”
According to the survey, 44% of LGBTQ+ youth said they could not access necessary mental health care. Transgender and nonbinary youth who were denied access to hormones were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide than those who could.
Resources are available throughout the region, such as the Attic Youth Center, Galaei and the LGBT National Youth Talkline.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.