The Trevor Project Releases National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People

The Trevor Project’s 2024 National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People is an illuminating and essential resource for understanding the mental health needs of youth in America. At a time when national repositories of essential national health information are disappearing, the incredible efforts and dedication of the Trevor Project to documenting and advocating for the needs of LGBTQ+ youth have never been more important or impactful.

For youth residing in Massachusetts, these results highlight several positive findings, including a strong sense of acceptance by community (90% of all respondents and 89% of youth identifying as trans or non-binary, specifically) and general accessibility of mental health services. Interestingly 70% of survey respondents who were engaged in mental health treatment indicated that they accessed care through virtual modalities, signaling the importance of telehealth options and services for addressing mental health needs within the LGBTQ+ youth population.

At the same time, significant obstacles and challenges remain, with respondents acknowledging high exposure to stressful or/or discriminatory experiences and general reluctance to talk about these experiences to mental health providers (nearly half of respondents for example cited fear of talking about their mental health concerns with a provider as a reason for not engaging with services).

Given the high rates of depression, anxiety, suicidality, and exposure to trauma and adversity in LGTBQ+ youth, public health officials and providers must redouble efforts to provide a safe and supportive environment for clients and to offer a range of modalities to address the unique needs of vulnerable youth.

The Austen Riggs Online IOP has led efforts across both of these fronts in increasing accessibility of care for students and young adults residing in MA, offering intensive psychodynamically-informed treatment that supports individuals while they navigate the challenges and benefits of living in their communities and work on developing a sense of safety and mastery in their daily lives and relationships.

 

View the MA Report
View the National Report Dashboard