The latest national survey from The Trevor Project paints a stark picture of how political hostility, barriers to health care, and discrimination continue to impact LGBTQ+ youth across the United States, especially transgender and nonbinary young people.
Released this week, the organization’s 2025 U.S. National Survey on the Mental Health of LGBTQ+ Young People gathered responses from more than 18,000 LGBTQ+ individuals ages 13 to 24. The findings show that transgender and nonbinary youth continue to experience significantly worse mental health outcomes than their cisgender peers, with access to gender-affirming care emerging as one of the clearest protective factors.
According to the report, transgender and nonbinary youth who were unable to access the hormones they wanted were nearly twice as likely to attempt suicide compared to those who could obtain care. The Trevor Project said the data reinforces years of research showing that access to affirming medical support can have life-saving effects.
The survey also found that 39% of LGBTQ+ young people seriously considered suicide within the past year, including 46% of transgender and nonbinary respondents. Young people living in highly accepting communities reported dramatically lower suicide attempt rates than those living in hostile environments.
Researchers noted that anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and political rhetoric remain major stressors. Ninety percent of respondents said recent political debates and laws negatively affected their well-being, while nearly one in three said the climate had caused them or their families to consider moving to another state.
The Trevor Project’s accompanying analysis specifically highlighted the growing impact of restrictions targeting transgender health care. The organization warned that bans on gender-affirming care, school policies targeting trans students, and escalating public attacks on transgender identities are contributing to chronic anxiety, depression, and social isolation among youth.
Bullying and discrimination also remained widespread. More than half of LGBTQ+ youth ages 13 to 17 reported experiencing bullying over the last year. Youth who experienced bullying reported substantially higher rates of suicide attempts than those who did not.
Despite the grim statistics, the survey also identified several protective factors that improved outcomes. Family support, affirming schools, welcoming communities, and online spaces where LGBTQ+ youth felt accepted were all associated with lower rates of depression and suicidal thoughts.
The Trevor Project said the findings serve as a reminder that the mental health crisis facing LGBTQ+ youth is not inevitable but heavily shaped by how communities, lawmakers, schools, and families respond to them.
