A new two-year study of LGBTQ+ youth from the Trevor Project holds some good news for young people across the U.S., as well as confirmation of the harmful impacts of gender identity-based discrimination, economic insecurity, and the scourge of conversion therapy on mental health.
The LGBTQ+ youth advocacy group published the findings of its ongoing study, “Project SPARK Two-Year Findings: A Longitudinal Study of Protective and Risk Factors in LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health,” on Tuesday.
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Responses collected from 1,689 LGBTQ+ youth ages 13-24 every six months from September 2023 through March 2026 revealed that supportive environments make a statistically positive difference in LGBTQ+ young people’s lives.
While LGBTQ+ youth continue to face persistent mental health challenges — including high rates of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation driven by ongoing discrimination, economic insecurity, and barriers to care — rates of self-harm and suicide attempts decreased over the time period.
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Family support was linked to 45% lower odds of suicidal ideation and 42% lower odds of self-harm. Gender euphoria was linked to 50% lower odds of suicidal ideation and 49% lower odds of depression. And proactive factors like changing ID documents and accessing hormones for trans and nonbinary youth led to 45% lower odds of suicidal ideation and 38% lower odds of depression, respectively.
“This research affirms what we have long known to be true: creating welcoming and supportive environments for LGBTQ+ youth is a life-saving intervention,” said Dr. Ronita Nath, Vice President of Research at the Trevor Project.
“As these young people navigate a challenging sociopolitical landscape with escalating anti-LGBTQ+ stigma and systemic barriers, the data from Project SPARK show that intentional support – things like family acceptance, gender euphoria, and access to care – can play a powerful role in protecting LGBTQ+ young people from suicide risk over time.”
“Showing up for LGBTQ+ youth in this moment means addressing the risk factors that lead to harm, while building safe, supportive spaces that allow these young people to fully be themselves.”
But persistent risk factors still plague LGBTQ+ youth, the study showed.
Conversion therapy threats and exposure were linked to nearly three times higher odds of suicidal ideation. Economic insecurity for unhoused youth and gender identity-based victimization both led to double the odds of self-harm and suicidal ideation.
A rise of anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation over successive interviews coincided with the politically motivated demonization of trans people and LGBTQ+ people generally in President Donald Trump’s latest campaign for the White House and throughout his second term.
Two findings contradicted the goals of the administration’s anti-trans efforts: Receipt of mental health care, despite the Trump administration gutting federal support, remained steady at 80% from the start of the study to the two-year follow-up, while the perceived helpfulness of the care surged from 64% to 91%.
Both desire for and access to hormones for trans and nonbinary youth rose from 59% to 71% over the two-year period, with receipt of that care rising to 73% for those 18+ and 33% for minors.
“Behind every data point in the Project SPARK report is an LGBTQ+ young person navigating a deeply difficult climate in this country,” said Jaymes Black, CEO of The Trevor Project. “This two-year study makes it undeniably clear that we cannot let them weather this storm alone.”
“The decline in self-harm and suicide attempts amid rising anti-LGBTQ+ discrimination is a testament to the life-saving power of community and connection,” Black said. “We must continue to fiercely protect young people’s access to care, support them exactly as they are, and ensure that LGBTQ+ young people know they are never, ever, alone.”
Editor’s note: This article mentions suicide. If you need to talk to someone now, call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-565-8860. It’s staffed by trans people, for trans people. The Trevor Project provides a safe, judgement-free place to talk for LGBTQ youth at 1-866-488-7386. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
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