70% of queer teens feel hopeless & 22% attempted suicide, CDC says

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LGBQ+ youth – teen girls in particular – are experiencing high levels of violence and mental distress, according to the most recent data from the biannual Youth Risk Behavior Survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The survey, which examines health experiences among U.S. high school students, found that in 2021, 52 percent of LGBQ+ students experienced poor mental health, and 22 percent had attempted suicide or had experienced sexual violence.

In 2021, nearly half of LGBQ+ students seriously considered attempting suicide, 22 percent attempted suicide, and nearly 70 percent reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, the CDC noted. Nearly 25 percent of LGBQ+ teens reported being bullied in school, and 14 percent of LGBQ+ teens said they missed school because of safety concerns.

While the survey didn’t ask teens about…

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, judgment-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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