Supportive Colleges Lower LGBTQ+ Suicide Risk

New survey research from the Trevor Project found that LGBTQ+ young people continue to report high rates of depression, anxiety and suicide risk. The findings suggest these challenges are driven not by LGBTQ+ identity itself, but by mistreatment, stigma and discrimination.

In its 2025 national survey, the nonprofit, which provides crisis support services, research and advocacy for LGBTQ+ youth, analyzed the experiences of more than 16,000 LGBTQ+ young people ages 13 to 24 nationwide. The findings, released this week, mark the seventh edition of the national survey, which examines how anti-LGBTQ+ victimization contributes to disproportionately high suicide risk among LGBTQ+ young people.

Roughly 36 percent of respondents—including 40 percent of transgender and nonbinary young people—seriously considered suicide in the past year, compared to 39 percent last year. About 10 percent reported attempting suicide in the past year, down slightly from 12 percent last year.

At the same time, 90 percent of respondents said recent anti-LGBTQ+ laws, policies and public debates caused them stress or anxiety, unchanged from last year. More than 70 percent said the current political climate made them feel unsafe and negatively impacted their mental health.

Ronita Nath, vice president of research at the Trevor Project, noted that more than 500 anti-LGBTQ+ bills have been introduced in the U.S. this year, underscoring the broader political climate LGBTQ+ young people are navigating.

“Nearly a third said it made them or their families consider moving to a different state, and nearly a quarter said it made them feel unsafe going to a doctor or a hospital, which is deeply concerning because health care should be a place where young people feel safe asking for help,” Nath said. “We want people to understand that their words carry weight—politicians, members of the media and anyone debating LGBTQ+ people.”

Key findings: The survey found high rates of anxiety and depression among respondents. About 62 percent of LGBTQ+ young people ages 18 to 24 reported recent symptoms of anxiety, down slightly from 65 percent last year; 50 percent reported symptoms of depression, compared to 49 percent last year.

At the same time, access to mental health care remained a challenge. Although 84 percent of LGBTQ+ young people surveyed said they wanted mental health care, 44 percent of those who sought it in the past year reported they were unable to access it.

Nath noted that obstacles to care ranged from logistical challenges—such as affordability and transportation—to less visible barriers like stigma and fear.

“Those [intangible barriers] play a major role in preventing young people’s access to mental health care,” Nath said. “It’s really important that we have these conversations and that, as a society, we work to raise awareness and visibility around mental health to break down those intangible barriers, while also continuing to invest in systems of care, because logistical barriers still exist as well.”

The report found LGBTQ+ young people of color reported attempting suicide at higher rates than their white peers. About 8 percent of white respondents reported attempting suicide in the past year, compared to 19 percent of Black, 12 percent of Hispanic and 11 percent of Asian young people.

In addition, 32 percent of respondents reported experiencing racial or ethnic discrimination in addition to anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination.

Supporting LGBTQ+ youth: But the research pointed to ways that institutions can help. LGBTQ+ young people who reported living in very accepting communities attempted suicide at less than a third of the rate of those living in very unaccepting communities—6 percent compared to 18 percent.

“Small actions at the school level with adults can make a meaningful and even lifesaving difference,” Nath said. “Schools can play a lifesaving role by creating environments where LGBTQ+ people feel safe, accepted and supported. When institutions and communities become more affirming, that risk goes down.”

This year’s survey also highlighted several protective factors tied to LGBTQ+ youth mental health. Nath noted that LGBTQ+ young people reported lower rates of suicide attempts when they had access to supportive spaces and communities.

“Our data show that, particularly for trans and nonbinary young people, they reported lower rates of suicide attempts when they lived with people who respected their pronouns [and] when they had access to a gender-neutral bathroom at school,” Nath said. “They want people in their lives to speak up for them—not just provide support in private, but be advocates.”

Nath also pointed to the survey’s write-in responses, where LGBTQ+ young people described wanting acceptance more than perfect understanding.

“One person said, ‘I would say it’s a matter of acceptance, not understanding. I don’t understand physics and its laws, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist,’” Nath said. “They’re saying you don’t have to understand these things. You don’t have to be an expert in these identities to support a transgender or nonbinary young person.”

“That’s key,” she added. “There may be a lack of understanding, but that shouldn’t be a barrier to accepting someone who’s different from your understanding of what a person should be like.”

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If you or someone you know are in crisis or considering suicide and need help, call the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by dialing 9-8-8, or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741.