Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Community

Mental Health in the LGBTQ+ Community

Because of stigma and discrimination, those who identify as LGBTQ+ are more likely than their non-LGBTQ+ counterparts to struggle with mental health disorders and substance misuse.

• In 1 in 3 LGBTQ+ adults experience mental illness.
• By comparison, 1 in 5 heterosexual adults experience mental illness.
• Among the LGBTQ+ adults living with mental illness, 13 % have a serious mental illness that substantially interfered with major life activities.
• Among heterosexual adults living with mental illness, 4% have a serious mental illness.
• LGBTQ+ adults are more than twice as likely than heterosexual adults to struggle with substance abuse.

LGBTQ+ Youth

• 60% of LGBTQ+ youth stop participating in their usual activities due to feelings of sadness or hopeless.
• LGBTQ+ youth are three times more likely than their heterosexual peers to experience depression or anxiety.
• LGBTQ+ youth are more than twice as likely to feel suicidal.
• LGBTQ+ youth are over four times more likely to attempt suicide, compared to heterosexual youth.
• Of the LGBTQ+ youth who attempt suicide over 50% are transgender or non-binary.
• Suicide is the second leading cause of death among the LGBTQ+ youth ages 10 to 24.

Source: The Trevor Project National Survey on LGBTQ Youth, Center for Disease Control Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Center for Disease Control National Health Statistics Report.