Poor mental health among LGBTQ+ youth can be linked to school policies and home environments. The Trevor Project’s yearly survey on mental health shows that transgender, gay, and nonbinary teens struggle more with mental health issues compared to their peers. Specifically school policies that are against LGBTQ+ youth make these challenges even harder to face. Nearly a third of participants stated their schools had at least one anti-LGBTQ+ policy, with Native and Indigenous youth and those from the southern U.S. reporting higher rates. Many of these youth feel unsupported because only a small percentage say their caregivers provide all the help they need. Caregivers demonstrating simple supportive behaviors can help reduce the risk of suicide attempts, which those in areas with “high anti-LGBTQ+ policies” are especially at risk for. (EdSurge)
📊 YPulse data: 66% of LGBTQ+ 13-39-year-olds have spoken to a mental health professional, compared to 51% of non-LGBTQ+
