LGBTQ+ Youth Health and Support

If You Need Help Now

Youth Crisis Lines: Available 24/7

TrevorLifeline

LGBTQ+-specific crisis intervention by trained counselors. Voice, text, or chat available.

1-866-488-7386

Trevor Text Line

Text START to 678678 for LGBTQ+ crisis support via text. 24/7.

Text START to 678678

988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (press 3)

National lifeline with a dedicated LGBTQ+ option. Voice, text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

Call or text 988

Crisis Text Line

Text with a trained crisis counselor. Available 24/7. Not LGBTQ+-specific but all welcome.

Text HOME to 741741

National Runaway Safeline

For LGBTQ+ youth experiencing or considering running away from home. Resources and shelter help.

1-800-786-2929

Mental Health

LGBTQ+ Youth Mental Health: What the Research Says

LGBTQ+ youth experience significantly higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation than their non-LGBTQ+ peers. The Trevor Project's 2023 National Survey found that 41% of LGBTQ+ youth seriously considered suicide in the past year, and 14% attempted it. These are not statistics about who LGBTQ+ youth are: they are statistics about what happens to LGBTQ+ youth when they are not supported.

The single most important factor in LGBTQ+ youth mental health is family acceptance. When families are accepting, LGBTQ+ youth have dramatically lower rates of depression, substance use, and suicide attempts. When families are rejecting, those rates climb steeply. This means family support is not just emotionally important: it is medically significant.

The Power of Family Acceptance

Research from the Family Acceptance Project at San Francisco State University found that LGBTQ+ young adults who experienced high family rejection were 8.4 times more likely to attempt suicide than those with accepting families. Every act of family acceptance, from using correct pronouns to showing interest in an LGBTQ+ child's life, significantly reduces risk. Parents who feel uncertain can find support through PFLAG (pflag.org).

Ryan C, et al. Family Acceptance Project, 2009

School Environment and GSAs

LGBTQ+ students at schools with a Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA) club, inclusive curriculum, and LGBTQ+-affirming anti-bullying policies report significantly better mental health outcomes. GLSEN's research shows that students in more accepting schools feel safer, perform better academically, and have lower rates of depression. If your school doesn't have a GSA, GLSEN (glsen.org) can help you start one.

GLSEN National School Climate Survey, 2021

Trans Youth and Gender-Affirming Care

A landmark 2022 study published in JAMA Network Open found a 73% reduction in suicidal ideation among trans youth who had access to puberty blockers, compared to those who wanted them but could not access them. Social transition (using a young person's chosen name and pronouns) is associated with significantly lower depression and suicidality. Chosen name use alone reduced suicidal ideation by 29% in research from the Trevor Project.

Tordoff DM, JAMA Network Open, 2022; Trevor Project, 2018

Finding a Therapist as a Young Person

If you are experiencing depression, anxiety, or difficulty coping, talking to an affirming therapist can genuinely help. School counselors vary in their affirming competency; it is OK to ask to see a different counselor or seek outside support. The Trevor Project and GLSEN maintain lists of LGBTQ+-affirming therapists. Psychology Today (psychologytoday.com) allows filtering by LGBTQ+ affirming and by insurance. If cost is a barrier, community mental health centers and LGBTQ+ centers often offer low or no-cost services.

Trevor Project; GLSEN; American Psychological Association

Coming Out

Coming Out: There Is No Single Right Way

Coming out is deeply personal. Some people come out early and publicly. Others take years. Some never fully come out to family. There is no timeline you must follow, no correct sequence, and no obligation to come out to anyone. Your safety and wellbeing come first.

Come Out to Yourself First

Acknowledging your identity to yourself, in your own mind, is the most important step. This might take time. You might feel uncertain, or your understanding of your identity might evolve. That is all completely normal. Many LGBTQ+ people spend years understanding their own identity before sharing it with anyone else, and there is nothing wrong with that.
Assess Safety Before Coming Out to Family

If you are financially dependent on your family or live with them and you are uncertain how they will react, it is wise to think carefully before coming out. Unfortunately, family rejection is real, and some young people have lost housing after coming out. You might start by coming out to a trusted friend or counselor first. The Trevor Project's "Coming Out" guide at thetrevorproject.org has a detailed safety planning section.
Build Your Support Network First

Before coming out to people who might react badly, build relationships with people you trust: a close friend, a school counselor, a relative who seems safe, or an LGBTQ+ peer. Having existing support makes navigating difficult reactions easier. TrevorSpace (trevorspace.org) is a safe online community for LGBTQ+ youth 13 to 24.
Choose Your Timing and Setting

If and when you decide to come out to family, choose a calm, private moment. Not during an argument. Not in a public place. Have a clear, simple statement prepared. You do not owe anyone an extensive explanation. "I'm gay" or "I'm trans" or "I'm non-binary" is enough to start. Be prepared for a range of reactions, including surprise, that might improve over time.
Know It Is OK if Reactions Aren't Perfect

Many families react poorly at first and gradually become more accepting. Research shows that most families move toward greater acceptance over time, especially with resources and education. PFLAG (pflag.org) supports families learning to accept LGBTQ+ loved ones. You are not responsible for your family's reaction or for educating them. You can set limits on contact if their behavior is harmful to you.

If You Lose Housing After Coming Out

LGBTQ+ youth account for up to 40% of homeless youth in the United States. If you are facing housing instability after coming out, contact the National Runaway Safeline (1-800-786-2929), True Colors United (truecolorsunited.org) for shelter resources, or your local LGBTQ+ community center for emergency housing connections. Many cities have LGBTQ+-specific youth shelters. You are not alone, and housing instability does not have to be permanent.

Youth Resources

Organizations That Support LGBTQ+ Young People

The Trevor Project

The leading national organization focused on crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ+ youth under 25. Operates TrevorLifeline, TrevorText, TrevorChat, and TrevorSpace (a safe online community). Publishes the most comprehensive annual survey of LGBTQ+ youth mental health.

thetrevorproject.org | 1-866-488-7386

GLSEN

GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network) works to ensure that LGBTQ+ students can learn and grow in a school environment free from bullying and discrimination. Provides resources for starting GSAs, model policies for schools, and educational materials for students, parents, and educators.

glsen.org

Gender Spectrum

A leading resource for families of trans and gender-diverse children and youth. Provides webinars, conferences, support groups, and educational resources for families, educators, and providers. Their family conference brings together trans youth and their families for community and learning.

genderspectrum.org

True Colors United

Focused specifically on LGBTQ+ youth homelessness, the leading and most preventable form of youth homelessness. Provides research, advocacy, and direct support resources. Their website includes a shelter finder for LGBTQ+ youth experiencing housing instability.

truecolorsunited.org

PFLAG

The largest organization for LGBTQ+ people, families, and allies. PFLAG has chapters in every state and provides support groups for families, education resources, and advocacy. An essential resource if you want to help a parent or family member understand and accept your identity.

pflag.org | 1-202-467-8180

It Gets Better Project

A global movement to uplift, empower, and connect LGBTQ+ youth around the world with resources, videos from LGBTQ+ adults showing that life can improve, and a community directory of local LGBTQ+ resources. Their digital resources are freely available and translate into many languages.

itgetsbetter.org

A Note to LGBTQ+ Youth

If you are a young LGBTQ+ person reading this: your identity is real, it is valid, and it is not something that needs to be fixed. The challenges you may be facing are real too, and they are the result of systems that weren't built for people like you, not the result of who you are. People who are just like you have navigated these challenges and gone on to build extraordinary lives filled with love, purpose, and community. It is not always easy, but you are not alone, and there are people who want to help. Reach out.

LGBTQ+ Youth Healthand Support